Seal of Louisville, Kentucky facts for kids
The Seal of Louisville is a special symbol or picture that represents the city of Louisville, Kentucky. Think of it like a logo for the city! This seal is used on important papers to show they are real and official. Louisville has had several different seals over the years. The city started using its first seal in 1828. By 2003, Louisville joined with Jefferson County, Kentucky. This led to a new, combined seal. A local art director named William Glenn Hack designed this current seal after winning a city-wide contest.
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History of Louisville's Seals
Louisville has changed its official seal several times. Each new seal showed what was important to the city at that time. Let's explore how the seal has evolved.
The First Seal (1828-1861)
The very first seal for Louisville was created in 1828. It showed a steamboat moving up a river towards a dock. The dock was full of boxes and bales, showing trade and business. Around the edge, it said "City of Louisville" at the top. At the bottom, it had the word "Perseverando." This Latin word meant "By Persevering." It was part of the city's motto: "Industry and punctuality by persevering." This seal was used for many years. However, by 1861, new ideas about progress appeared.
The Second Seal (1861-1910)
On May 6, 1861, Louisville approved a new seal. This design was inspired by the exciting new steam locomotive. Trains were a big symbol of progress back then! The seal featured a locomotive and the word "Progress." This second seal stayed in use for nearly 50 years.
The Third Seal (1910-1953)
By 1910, people felt that the locomotive was no longer the best symbol for progress. So, the Louisville Convention and Publicity League held a competition. They wanted a new design for the city's seal. John T. Bauscher won the contest. His design showed a lady holding a banner that said "Progress." In her other hand, she held a cornucopia, which is a symbol of plenty and good things. A train and a steamboat were on either side of her. A tall building was in the background. It had the words "The Nation's Thorough-fare" on it. The city council officially adopted this third seal on December 21, 1910.
The Fourth Seal (1953-2003)
On November 25, 1953, Louisville adopted another new seal. This one was designed by an Austrian typographer named Victor Hammer. Mayor Charles R. Farnsley wanted a simpler seal. This design was based on how Louisville got its name. It featured three fleur-de-lis arranged in a triangle in the center. Each fleur-de-lis represented a century of the city's history. They were surrounded by thirteen stars, which stood for the original states of the United States. The year 1778 was also included. This year marks when the first settlements began in the Louisville area. The fleur-de-lis means "Lily Flower" and was a symbol of King Louis XVI of France. Louisville was named after him!
The Current Seal (2003-Present)
The seal used today represents both Louisville and Jefferson County. This is because their governments merged on January 6, 2003. The current seal says "Louisville – Jefferson County" in a circle. Inside the circle, there is a single fleur-de-lis with two stars. The year 1778, when Louisville was founded, is also shown on both sides. This seal was chosen after a city-wide competition. William Glenn Hack, a local art director, created this winning design.
