Washington, DC District Flag

Adopted on October 15, 1938

The flag of Washington, DC was adopted on October 15, 1938.

Without either a local or self government, the District of Columbia was very slow to develop a seal or flag of its own. The first seal, designed in 1871 by the Legislative Assembly of the District, included representations of the Capitol building, the American eagle, the figure of Justice, and George Washington. Over the next number of years, several unofficial flags were flown displaying the seal. In 1920, a commission was established to choose a unique design for the flag of the District of Columbia. Under the guidance of A. E. Dubois, the final design was approved on October 15, 1938. The design was based on the shield from the coat of arms used by the Washington family.

State Flags

The flags of the US states exhibit a wide variety of regional influences and local histories, as well as widely different styles and design principles. Modern state flags date from the 1890s when states wanted to have distinctive symbols at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago.

flag (flag)
noun

1. a piece of cloth or bunting, often attached to a staff, with distinctive colors, patterns, or symbolic devices, used as a national or state symbol, as a signal, etc.; banner; standard; ensign