FLAG'S HISTORY
Cleveland’s oldest and today's officially used Cleveland flag was adopted by Cleveland Ohio's City Council on October 21, 1895, to mark the city’s centennial. Designed by 18-year-old Susan Hepburn Beach, a graduate of the Cleveland School of Art, the flag symbolizes the city’s industrial and maritime roots. Beach’s design won a contest launched by the Plain Dealer and judged by a panel led by Archibald Willard, painter of The Spirit of ’76. She was selected over more than two dozen male finalists.
A. Ruger, artist. Lith. by Shober & Carqueville. - Library of Congress
History of The Flag Cleveland’s oldest and today's officially used Cleveland flag was adopted by Cleveland Ohio's City Council on October 21, 1895, to mark the city’s centennial. Designed by 18-year-old Susan Hepburn Beach, a graduate of the Cleveland School of Art, the flag symbolizes the city’s industrial and maritime roots. Beach’s design won a contest launched by the Plain Dealer and judged by a panel led by Archibald Willard, painter of The Spirit of ’76. She was selected over more than two dozen male finalists. The flag features vertical red, white, and blue stripes with a central shield. One corner of the shield includes an anvil, hammer, and wheel for manufacturing; the other holds an anchor, oar, and windlass for trade. A laurel wreath and the founding year, 1796, complete the design. The motto Progress and Prosperity was added later.
The "Real" Cleveland Flag is proudly still in use today in thousands of applications specifically on Cleveland Police uniforms, city vehicles, public buildings and schools - representing Cleveland’s history, resilience, and civic pride.
City Flag. The Design of Miss Susie Hepburn of Columbus Recommended. - News Bank
A LEGACY OF PROGRESS & PROSPERITY!
Our Journey
So far...
Foundation of Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio, was founded in 1796 by Moses Cleaveland. Originally named "Cleaveland," it was later spelled "Cleveland" after a typo. Its location on Lake Erie made it a key trade hub. It became a village in 1814 and a city in 1836, growing quickly with industry, shipping, and railroads.
Key to the City
In 1941, Cleveland awarded Susan Hepburn Beach the Key to the City in recognition of her 1895 flag design. The event celebrated her creative contribution to the city's identity and ensured her legacy as a civic pioneer would be remembered.
City Council Adopted the Flag
In 1895, Cleveland adopted its first municipal flag, featuring red, white, and blue stripes, the city's name, and a shield with an anchor, windmill, and wheel. It symbolized Cleveland's maritime, industrial, and innovative spirit as a growing economic hub.
130th Flag Anniversary
The “Real” Cleveland Flag is celebrating 130 years of representing Cleveland, Progress, and Prosperity.
Cleveland's 150th Anniversary
In 1946, during Cleveland's 150th anniversary celebrations, Beach's iconic flag was prominently displayed alongside the American flag. This symbolized civic pride and unity, honoring the city's history and industrial achievements since 1796. The event reinforced the flag's role as a lasting emblem of Cleveland's identity and its importance for the city's future.
130+ Flags Given Away by the Descendants
As a way to Celebrate the 130th Anniversary of the Cleveland Flag, Kristen O'Brien Fragass has given over 130 "Real" Cleveland Flags to Clevelanders free of charge to them.