Taking a close look at Seattle’s official city flag

It was created for the Goodwill Games in 1990.

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Former city councilmember Paul Kraabel came up with this design in 1990.

Photo via Seattle Municipal Archives

Just want to run this one up the ol’ pole: How many of you knew that Seattle had its own, official flag?

Indeed we do. The municipal symbol is a teal/greenish and white design adopted in July of 1990 ahead of that summer’s Goodwill Games , sort of a mini Olympics meant to improve relations between the US and the former Soviet Union (Ronald Reagan and Arnold Schwarzeneggger gave speeches).

You’ll notice the portrait of Chief Sealth surrounded by wavy lines meant to signify the waters of the Puget Sound. Only three original copies of the flag were made — so if you have one, it’s a total collector’s item.

In recent years, there were attempts to re-imagine the outdated flag as the Seattle Times and The Stranger hosted reader design competitions. But there’s been no successful effort to replace it... yet. Guess that teal and white don’t run.

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Gabe is based in Seattle (originally from New Jersey), and has previously been a food writer at Eater, a sports reporter, and a YA graphic novelist. You’ll probably find him scouting out the latest restaurant in town on the weekends, or strolling around the streets of White Center with his feisty pup, Armando.