Flag of Lincoln, Nebraska
 | |
| "All Roads Lead to Lincoln" | |
| Proportion | 2:3 |
|---|---|
| Adopted | January 24, 2022 |
| Design | A horizontal bicolor of teal and deep blue, with a stylized gold beacon in the center, with eight golden lines from the top-left and top-right connecting to it. |
| Designed by | Ed Mejia |
The flag of Lincoln, Nebraska consists of a horizontal bicolor of teal and deep blue, with a stylized beacon in the center, with eight golden lines from the top-left and top-right connecting to it.
The current flag was adopted in 2022 following a contest to design a flag to replace the original city flag, which was adopted in 1931.
Design
[edit]The beacon design in the center of the flag symbolizes "the hope and optimism that the people of Lincoln are known for", as well as Lincoln's designation by the U.S. Department of State as a "refugee-friendly city."[1] Some of the imagery implied by the lines are a sunrise (the eight horizontal and diagonal lines), the state capitol building (the three vertical lines coming out from the center of the beacon), and an aerial view of the traditional center of town, with the star representing the intersection of 13th and O Streets.[2]
| Scheme | Deep Blue | Teal | Gold | White |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pantone | 309 C | 7707 C | 728 C | N/A |
The teal is said to be a nod to Lincoln’s "verdant tapestry" of parks and trails. The deep blue represents groundwater aquifers, a natural resource significant to the region. The gold represents a bright future and "a place where all are warmly welcomed."[2]
History
[edit]Original flag
[edit] | |
| Proportion | 2:3 |
|---|---|
| Adopted | September 14, 1931 |
| Relinquished | January 24, 2022 |
| Designed by | J.E. Fiselmen |
The contest for a flag design was inspired by a gift from members of the Rotary Club of Lincoln, England, who presented a flag of their city to Lincoln, Nebraska, during a visit in May 1928. Various groups in the city discussed the need to have a similar emblem, which resulted in a contest sponsored by the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce. This contest, restricted to citizens living within the city, had a prize of $50 (or equivalent to $1,034 in 2024.)[3]
Mrs. J.E. Fiselmen's design would be chosen by the Chamber of Commerce on September 2, 1931, and would be officially adopted by the city about two weeks later on September 14. Frank D. Tomson, chairman of the chamber’s flag committee, presented the flag in a ceremony at city hall on October 29, 1932. In his remarks, Tomson noted that the new flag had been presented to the city of Lincoln, England, and urged that the new city flag “...should find a place in every home within this city and be displayed as a hospitable welcome whenever visitors in numbers from other parts enter our gates.”[3]
Redesign and current flag
[edit]Local interest in a possible flag redesign was sparked in August 2019 after Keil Wilson, a local IT manager and flag enthusiast, brought up the issue at a conference hosted by the non-profit Ignite Lincoln. At this conference, Wilson noted that the flag used at the time "no longer represents the characteristics of Lincoln and does not meet the criteria outlined in basic principles of flag design."[4] The contest, called "ReFlag Lincoln", was hosted from July 1 to August 8, 2021, and would receive over 190 entries.[5][6] The selection committee involved many local and regional organizations, including the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's School of Art and the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska.[6]
The winning flag, entitled All Roads Lead to Lincoln, was created by Ed Mejia, a local creative director, art director, and graphic designer. His design was selected by the ReFlag committee from a pool of over 190 submissions from the public. Mejia, who is an immigrant from El Salvador, cited Lincoln's skyline as an inspiration in his design, saying his submission was based off "reflecting on the emotions I felt when I drove into town the first time."[6]
References
[edit]- ^ "History of New Americans Task Force". City of Lincoln, Nebraska. Archived from the original on June 11, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ^ a b "City Flag". www.lincoln.ne.gov. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
- ^ a b Purcell, John M.; Croft, James A.; Monahan, Rich (2002–2003). Raven, volume 9-10. Archived from the original on April 28, 2018. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
- ^ Dietrich, Lauren (June 15, 2021). "Lincoln's Flag Said to be Outdated, Contest to Redesign". Nebraska Public Media. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
- ^ "AMA Lincoln and YPG look to remake Lincoln's flag". 10/11 NOW. July 31, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Winning City of Lincoln flag design announced". 10/11 NOW. January 10, 2022. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
