| Flag of Chicago (1917-1933) | |
| |
| Adopted | April 4, 1917 |
|---|---|
| Designed by | Wallace Rice |
| Proportions | unspecified |
The 1917-1933 flag of Chicago had two stars instead of one, and they were both near the hoist.
Symbolism[]
The colors of flag had the same meaning as the current one. The two stars represented the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and the 1893 World's Fair.
Designer's description[]
From the Chicago Daily Tribune, March 29, 1917, page 13.
OFFER DESIGN FOR CITY FLAG; WHAT IT MEANS
Design for a Chicago Flag, to be emblematic of a robust municipal ideal, was submitted to the city council yesterday by the Chicago municipal flag commission, appointed by Mayor Thompson eighteen months ago. The commission describes the flag thus:
“Its uppermost stripe, of white, is eight inches broad; the second stripe, of blue, is nine inches; the central bar, of white, is eighteen inches, and the two lower stripes correspond with the uppermost two. Near the staff on the broad white stripe are two six pointed red stars, fourteen inches tall.”
“Viewed locally, the two blue stripes symbolize the Chicago river with its two branches and the three white bars represent the three sides of the city. The red stars stand for the Chicago fire and the World’s fair, two great influences on the city’s history. The six points in the first star stand for transportation, trade, finance, industry, populousness, and healthfulness; those in the second for religion, education, aesthetics, beneficence, justice and civism.”
“Considered nationally, the blue stripes stand for the mountain ranges which flank the plain of which Chicago is the center. The central white bar stands for this plain and the two outer white bars for the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.”
The flag was designed by Wallace Rice, 2701 Best avenue.