Flag of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Flag of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
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| Use | Other  |
|---|---|
| Proportion | 3:4 |
| Adopted | April, 1907 |
| Designed by | unknown |
The city flag of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania is a special symbol for the city. It has a blue background with a yellow border. In the center, you'll see the city's unique emblem. This emblem is different from the official City Seal or logo.
The flag's emblem shows a white keystone with a red outline. Inside it, you can see the capitol dome. This dome reminds everyone that Harrisburg is the capital city of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
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The Story Behind Harrisburg's Flag
For many years, Harrisburg did not have its own flag. This changed when the city was invited to the Jamestown Tercentennial Exposition in 1907. This was a big event celebrating 300 years since the founding of Jamestown, Virginia.
How the Flag Was Chosen
To prepare for the exposition, Harrisburg's Mayor, Edward Z. Gross, decided it was time for the city to have a flag. He suggested holding a contest to design one. The Harrisburg Patriot newspaper helped by asking people to submit designs. They wanted a flag that was "simple and dignified."
Updates to the Flag Over Time
The current flag of Harrisburg looks very much like the original design. It was updated slightly around 1991. However, its main look and meaning stayed the same.
The All-America City Flag
An interesting alternative flag also came into use later. This happened after Harrisburg won the All-America City Award. This award is given by the National Civic League to cities that work well together to solve problems. Harrisburg won this award twice, in 1984-85 and again in 1990.
This alternative flag used the same city emblem. But it also added a circular symbol showing the "All-America City" designation. You might still see this special emblem today, for example, as a logo on public trash cans around the city.
