Flag of Pittsburgh facts for kids
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| Use | Civil flag |
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| Proportion | 6:10 |
| Adopted | 1899 |
| Design | A vertical tricolor of black, yellow and black charged in the center with the arms of the City of Pittsburgh |
Variant flag of the City of Pittsburgh
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| Use | Civil ensign |
| Proportion | 4.5:6/3:4 |
| Design | A vertical tricolor of black, gold and black charged in the center with the City crest within a circle of thirteen blue stars |
The flag of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is a special kind of flag called a triband. This means it has three vertical stripes. The Pittsburgh flag has black stripes on the outside and a gold (yellow) stripe in the middle. In the very center of the gold stripe, you'll see the city's coat of arms.
In 2004, a group called the North American Vexillological Association (they study flags!) looked at 150 city flags. Pittsburgh's flag was ranked as the 24th best design. It was even the top-rated flag among all the triband flags!
Because of the flag's colors, all four of Pittsburgh's main professional sports teams use black and gold. This includes the Pittsburgh Pirates (baseball), Pittsburgh Steelers (football), Pittsburgh Penguins (hockey), and Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (soccer). The design on the flag is based on the family crest of William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham. The city of Pittsburgh is named after him.
What Does the Flag Look Like?
The city of Pittsburgh has official rules about how its flag should look. These rules are found in the city's laws.
The main city flag is made of black and gold colors. It is usually 10 feet long and 6 feet wide, or similar sizes that keep these proportions. The flag is divided into three equal vertical parts. The first and third parts are black, and the middle part is gold.
On the gold middle stripe, you'll see the coat of arms of Pittsburgh. This design is taken from the city's official seal. The coat of arms takes up about one-third of the gold stripe.
The city flag is flown on public buildings and during important city events. It is always displayed in a way that shows respect to the United States flag. This means the U.S. flag is always placed higher or in a more important position.
There's also a special flag called the City Ensign, or merchant flag. It's similar to the main flag, with black and gold stripes. But instead of the full city coat of arms, it shows only the crest (the top part) of the coat of arms. This crest is surrounded by thirteen blue stars arranged in a circle. The ensign is usually 6 feet long and 4 feet 6 inches deep.
City Symbols
The City Motto
The phrase Benigno Numine is the official motto of Pittsburgh. This motto belonged to the Earl of Chatham, William Pitt. It means "With the Benevolent Deity" or "By the Favor of the Heavens." It's like saying "With God's blessing" or "With help from above."
Pittsburgh adopted this motto in 1816 when it became a city. However, it somehow disappeared from official city documents and seals in the early 1900s. The city council decided to bring it back to the official seal in 1950. But it wasn't actually put back into use until 1958.
Coat of Arms and Seal
A coat of arms is a special design that represents a family, city, or organization. Pittsburgh's coat of arms is based on the design used by William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham. He is the person Pittsburgh is named after.
The top part of the city's coat of arms, called the crest, shows a fortress or castle. This castle represents the city of Pittsburgh. It's like a special crown that shows the city's strength and history.
The official description of the city's coat of arms, from a 1925 city law, is a bit like a secret code for artists. It says: It has a black background. In the middle, there's a checkered band of silver and blue. Below and above this band are three gold circles, each with a gold eagle flying upwards. The crest (top part) is a black castle with three towers, built with silver stones.
The official seal of Pittsburgh is also described in the city's laws. The main city seal is a circle. In the center, it has the city's coat of arms and crest. Around the edge of the circle, it says "The Seal of the City of Pittsburgh, 1816, Benigno Numine" in big letters.
There are also "lesser seals" for different city offices, like the Mayor's office or the City Clerk's office. These seals look just like the great seal, but they also have the name of the specific office written below the city arms.
