St. Louis Flag Approved 50 Years Ago Today

In less than two weeks St. Louis will celebrate its 250th birthday, but 50 years ago today the city officially adopted a new flag design, replacing a 48 year old design from 1916:

The design submitted by Professor Emeritus Theodore Sizer, Pursuivant of Arms at Yale University, and now on file in the office of the City register is approved, adopted and designated as the official flag of the City. The flag with a solid red background has two broad heraldic wavy bars, colored blue and white, extending from the left top and bottom corners toward left center where they join and continue as one to the center right edge. This symbolizes the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. Over the point of confluence a round golden disk upon which is the fleur-de-lis of France (blue) calling attention to the French background of the early city and more particularly to St. Louis of France for whom the City is named. The golden disk represents the City and/or the Louisiana Purchase. (Heraldically, the disk is a “bezant” or Byzantine coin signifying, money or simply purchase.)

The flag’s colors recall those of Spain (red and yellow or gold), Bourbon France (white and gold), Napoleonic and Republican France (blue, white and red), and the United States of America (red, white, and blue). (St. Louis City Revised Code Chapter 1.20 Official Flag)

As far as I know, the design is universally loved. For more on prior St. Louis flags see my post from four years ago.

The flag is so beautiful we have one hanging in our loft.  The flag’s designer died three years later in 1967 at approximately 75 years old (Find-A-Grave). So happy 50th to our city flag and happy 250th to our city!

— Steve Patterson