Flag of San Francisco facts for kids
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| Use | Civil flag |
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| Adopted | December 16, 1940. Pictured version is c. 1940. |
| Design | A white field with a yellow border, with a phoenix rising from flames. On a ribbon below, "Oro en paz. Fierro en guerra." with "SAN FRANCISCO" in blue at the bottom. |
The Flag of the City and County of San Francisco is the official flag for the city of San Francisco, California. Its main symbol is a phoenix rising from flames. Many people think this means the city recovered from the 1906 earthquake and fires. But the phoenix was a city symbol even before that, since 1852. The city's leaders officially chose this flag design on December 16, 1940.
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History of the San Francisco Flag
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In 1900, Mayor James Duval Phelan suggested that San Francisco should have its own flag and motto. More than 100 designs were sent in. John M. Gamble's idea was chosen.
His design shows a phoenix rising from ashes on a white background. The phoenix is a mythical bird that appears in many old stories. It is a symbol of new beginnings. When the phoenix feels it's time to die, it builds a special nest and sets it on fire. A new phoenix then rises from the ashes. This is like how San Francisco rebuilt itself after big fires in the 1850s.
The flag's motto is "Oro en paz y fierro en guerra." This means "Gold in Peace and Iron in War." It refers to the city's role during the Spanish–American War. In 1898, San Francisco was where soldiers left from to go to the Philippines.
What the San Francisco Flag Looks Like
Below the phoenix on the flag, there is a ribbon. On it, the motto "Oro en Paz—Fierro en Guerra" is written in Spanish. This means "Gold in Peace, Iron in War" in English. Because of this motto, the official colors of San Francisco are gold and black. You can see these colors on the dome of San Francisco City Hall.
The yellow border around the flag was originally meant to be a gold decorative edge. But it was accidentally made a part of the flag's design. When the flag is used indoors, a real gold fringe is often added to it.
Images for kids
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1929 replacement copy of original 1900 San Francisco flag designed by Robert Ingersoll Aitken.
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Flag of San Francisco 1900–1940
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The flag of NAVA Meeting 21, hosted in San Francisco. NAVA meeting flags often incorporate elements to reflect the host city.
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See also
In Spanish: Bandera de San Francisco para niños
