flag of Detroit

{{multiple image

|header=Past flags of Detroit

|image1=Flag of Detroit (1948–1972).png

|caption1=Detroit city flag (1948–1974)

|image2=Flag of Detroit (1972–1976).png

|caption2=Detroit city flag (1974–1976)

|image3=Flag of Detroit (1976–2000).svg

|caption3=Detroit city flag (1976–2000)

|align=right

}}

The flag has the city seal emblazoned on quartered background, with each section representing a country that once controlled Detroit. The lower hoist (left) quarter represents France, which founded the fort and settlement in 1701; it has five gold fleurs-de-lis on a white field, imitating the Royal Standard of France. The upper fly (right) quarter represents Great Britain, which controlled the fort from 1760 to 1796; it has three gold lions on a red field, imitating the Royal Arms of England. The lower fly has 13 red and white stripes and the upper hoist has 13 white stars on a blue field, representing the original Thirteen Colonies of the United States.{{cite book |title= The Detroit Almanac: 300 Years of Life in the Motor City |url=https://archive.org/details/detroitalmanac300000unse/page/618/mode/2up?q=flag |editor1-first=Peter |editor1-last=Gavrilovich |editor2-first=Bill |editor2-last=McGraw |year=2000 |publisher=Detroit Free Press |isbn=978-0937247341 |page=619 |url-access=registration}}

The two Latin mottos read {{lang|la|Speramus Meliora}} and {{lang|la|Resurget Cineribus}}, meaning "We hope for better things" and "It will rise from the ashes", which was written by Gabriel Richard after the Great Fire of 1805. The seal is a representation of the Detroit fire which occurred on June 11, 1805. The fire caused the entire city to burn with only one building saved from the flames. The figure on the left weeps over the destruction while the figure on the right gestures to the new city that will rise in its place.{{cite web |title= Detroit's Official Symbols |publisher= Detroit Historical Society |url= http://www.detroithistorical.org/main/dhm/current_exhibits_details.aspx?ID=16 |access-date= May 9, 2011}}

In the original design of the flag, the seal was oval. In the early 1970s, the flag was redesigned and the seal was changed to a circle.{{cite journal| title=Detroit, Michigan| url=https://www.pdcnet.org/85257D7A006284F7/file/008C5871883BF5F0C1257DCD004F28B5/$FILE/raven_2002_0009_0000_0102_0104.pdf| last=Purcell| first=John| pages=101-103| journal=Raven: A Journal of Vexillology| year=2002}} In 1976, the colors were standardized using the Pantone Matching System, and in approximately 2000, the seal was again changed to reduce the number of colors.{{citation needed|date=March 2014}}

{{Portal|Michigan}}

• Flag of Michigan

{{reflist}}

{{refbegin}}

{{refend}}

• {{cite book|title= My State and its Story|first= Ferris E.|last=Lewis |edition= 16th |year= 1972}}
• {{cite web|title=Lesson 1: The Detroit Flag: Symbols of Our History |website=Detroit Historical Museum |url=http://www.detroithistorical.org/learningcenter/curriculummaterials/detroitsstory/a1.pdf |year=2004 |access-date=April 20, 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040420070515/http://www.detroithistorical.org/learningcenter/curriculummaterials/detroitsstory/a1.pdf |archive-date=April 20, 2004}}
• {{cite book|title= Forgotten Detroit|url= https://archive.org/details/forgottendetroit0000vach|url-access= registration|first= Paul |last= Vachon |year= 2009|isbn= 9780738560878}}
• {{FOTW|id=us-mi-dt|title=Detroit, Michigan}}

{{Commons category|Flags of Wayne County, Michigan}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20040420070515/http://detroiths.pastperfect-online.com/33029images/159/2013040386.JPG Photograph of the Detroit city flag in 1972]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20040420070515/https://detroithistorical.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/2004-083-0014-e1381953250509.jpg Photograph of the Detroit city flag in 1976]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20040420070515/http://detroiths.pastperfect-online.com/33029images/159/2013040384.JPG Photograph of the Detroit city flag in 1983]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20040420070515/http://detroiths.pastperfect-online.com/33029images/159/2013040385.JPG Photograph of the Detroit city flag in 1983]

{{Detroit}}

{{Flags of cities in the United States}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Detroit, Michigan, Flag of}}

Flag

Category:Flags of cities in Michigan

Category:Flags introduced in 1948

Category:1948 establishments in Michigan

Category:Flags displaying animals