Flag of Buffalo, New York facts for kids
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| Use | Civil flag  |
|---|---|
| Proportion | 5:8 |
| Adopted | May 7, 1924 |
| Design | The city seal with 13 lightning bolts and stars on a blue background. |
| Designed by | Louis Greenstein |
The flag of Buffalo is the official flag for the city of Buffalo, New York. It's a navy blue flag with a big design in the middle. This design shows the city's official seal. Around the seal, there are 13 white stars and 13 "electric flashes," which look like lightning bolts.
Contents
History of the Buffalo Flag
Buffalo's First Flag
Buffalo got its first official flag in 1912. The city's government, called the Common Council, approved it. A company from New York City asked for a copy of Buffalo's flag design. This was for a book showing flags from big cities.
The mayor, L.P. Fuhrmann, and a city official, Francis G. Ward, suggested a design. This first flag had the city's seal placed on top of the state's coat-of-arms. Both were in blue, and the background of the flag was a light brown color, called "buff."
What the First Flag Showed
The first flag was meant to show important parts of Buffalo. It had a lighthouse and a ship entering a harbor. It also showed a canal boat moving into a canal. The words "City of Buffalo, Incorporated 1832" were in a circle around the main picture.
The Flag's Seal Problem
Even though the city government approved a specific seal for the flag, the flag actually used a different one. At that time, various city officials used different seals. The flag ended up showing the seal that the Mayor used.
This mayoral seal was different in a few ways. For example, it said "Seal of the City of Buffalo" instead of "City of Buffalo, Incorporated 1832." It also showed two mules pulling the canal boat, which were not in the city's official seal description.
Buffalo's Current Flag
In 1922, Mayor Francis X. Schwab felt the first flag didn't truly represent Buffalo. He asked the Common Council to hold a contest for a new flag design. The first contest didn't find a winner. So, a second contest was held with a bigger prize.
Seventy-three different designs were sent in. The City Planning Committee and the Fine Arts Academy chose the winning design. They picked it because it was simple and unique. The prize of $250 went to a local architect named Louis Greenstein.
The new flag was officially adopted on May 7, 1924. It was then dedicated to the city on Flag Day, June 14, 1924. Louis Greenstein's home, where he lived when he designed the flag, is still standing today in Buffalo.
What the Flag Means
The flag of Buffalo has special meanings for the city. It is designed to show the energy and passion of the people of Buffalo. According to Mayor Schwab, the flag also shows how much people in Buffalo love their city.
The flag has thirteen stars. These stars represent New York State being one of the original Thirteen Colonies of the United States. The flag also has thirteen "electric flashes" or lightning bolts. These celebrate Buffalo as one of the first cities to widely use electric power.
