Anchorage

Anchorage
Country	United States
State	Alaska
Adopted	1973
Proportions	2:3

The flag of Anchorage, Alaska, is a yellow background with the city's seal in the center. On the top and bottom of the seal are the words "ANCHORAGE" and "ALASKA".

Symbolism

• The large anchor is in reference to the city's name as well as its origin as an anchorage, notably for the third voyage of James Cook.
• The modern airplane symbolizes Anchorage's role as a transportation hub with its Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.
• The yellow sun symbolizes the city's variation in daylight across the seasons due to its northern latitude.
• The ship is an HMS Resolution used by Captain James Cook in his exploration of the Cook Inlet, upon which Anchorage was founded.
• It is unknown what the field of yellow is meant to represent, but it is possibly in reference to the Yukon Gold Rush.

History

In 1973, the city of Anchorage held a contest to adopt a city flag for the first time. Artist and longtime art professor at the University of Alaska Anchorage Joan Kimura submitted an acrylic painting of her design which was slightly adjusted and then adopted by the city. In 1975 the Anchorage Assembly passed a resolution to adapt the seal on the flag into the seal of city, which is still in use today.

2004 NAVA survey

The flag scored 5.33 / 29th out of 150 on the 2004 NAVA survey, behind Annapolis, and ahead of Seattle.