History.
how a symbol was made.
Overview.
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. The flag was designed by 18-year-old Susan Hepburn Beach, a graduate of the Cleveland School of Art. Her design was chosen after a successful contest launched by The Plain Dealer, which aimed to engage local citizens in selecting a symbol for the city. The contest attracted over two dozen submissions, and Beach’s design was judged by a panel led by Archibald Willard, the painter known for The Spirit of ’76. She was ultimately selected over many male finalists from the community.
A modified version of the Cleveland, Ohio, flag with additional text "ALL AMERICA CITY" - Source: Cleveland, Ohio (U.S.)
The flag features vertical stripes of red, white, and blue, which symbolize patriotism. At the center of the flag is a shield that incorporates several key symbols representing Cleveland’s history and identity. One corner of the shield displays an anvil, hammer, and wheel, representing the city’s growing manufacturing industry. The opposite corner features an anchor, an oar, and a windlass, highlighting Cleveland’s importance as a hub of trade and maritime activity.
The shield is surrounded at the bottom by a red outline, and the founding year of the city, 1796, is depicted within a laurel wreath, honoring Cleveland’s origins established by General Moses Cleaveland. Although the initial design did not include a motto, it became an important part of the flag later on. In November 1895, Cleveland’s Mayor Robert McKisson added the phrase “Progress and Prosperity” to the flag, despite some disagreement from other city leaders. This phrase was intended to reflect the city’s aspirations and ongoing development. Over time, the flag has become a symbol of civic pride and resilience. Today, the official Cleveland flag is still widely used, appearing on police uniforms, city vehicles, public buildings, and schools throughout the city. It stands as a visual reminder of Cleveland’s rich history and its enduring spirit.
Early Settlers Association.
The Early Settlers Association of the Western Reserve is one of the oldest civic organizations in an area once known as the Connecticut Lands of the Western Reserve (Northeast Ohio). Some 140 years ago, the original Early Settlers members still had connections to the earliest settlers of the region. They adopted a constitution which, to this day, the only change has been to open the membership to any person who shares in its goals, regardless of their ancestry or place of residence.
Other Designs.
There are three design proposals believed to be by I.T. Frary, which were published in the Cleveland Plain Dealer on September 8, 1895, on page 21.
The first design features two shields bearing the name "Cleveland." One shield displays a carpenter’s square and machinist’s calipers, symbolizing the city’s industries, while the other shows the pilot house of a ship, representing Cleveland’s shipping interests. Between the shields is a torch of liberty, with an incandescent light replacing the usual flame.
The second design presents a pattern reminiscent of a UK union jack, with eight white stripes, each separated by a star. In the center is a seal that illustrates an open book, which could represent the Bible, law, or literature. Resting on the book are a pen and a hammer, and above are the scales of justice. The seal bears the inscriptions VOX POPULI; VOX DEI; CLEVELAND, emphasizing the importance of both the voice of the people and divine guidance.
The third proposal is a framed white flag featuring a central image of the torch of liberty. Surrounding it are a wreath, the word LIBERTY, the date 1796, and the name CLEVELAND. These designs reflect early ideas and symbolism considered for representing the city’s identity.
The Winner!
Cleveland's emblem features a vertical tribar of red, white, and blue stripes, with a shield displaying the city's coat of arms centered on the white stripe. According to the adoption ordinance: The middle stripe bears the American shield with the word "Cleveland" in blue across its center, and the figures "1796" in red at the base, encircled by a green laurel wreath. The lower half of the shield is outlined in red, while the upper half is blue. In the upper left corner (as seen by the viewer), there are symbols of an anvil, hammer, and wheel. In the upper right corner, there are an anchor, windlass, and oars. Beneath the shield, the words "Progress" and "Prosperity" are inscribed in black letters.
Other less popular entries.
Unveiling.
Once the judges reached a unanimous decision and the city received its banner, the debut took place not in Cleveland but at the Cotton States and International Exposition in Atlanta. Additionally, another Cleveland was present: President Grover Cleveland, who officially inaugurated the fair.
Hepburn’s banner features three vertical bars in red, white, and blue, a design the judges appreciated because the stripes ran counter to Old Glory’s. In the center lies the Cleveland coat of arms, with the city’s name in blue and its founding year in red. Above the date are two sets of images: on the left, an anvil, hammer, and wheel; on the right, an anchor, windlass, and oars. These elements reflect Cleveland’s industrial strength and maritime connections, thanks to its location on a Great Lake. Beneath these images and the words "Progress and Prosperity" is the banner’s motto.
