The Chicago flag features two blue stripes and three white stripes, with four six-pointed red stars on the center white stripe. The stars commemorate significant events in Chicago's history.
Blue Stripes:
The top blue stripe represents Lake Michigan and the Chicago River's North Branch. The bottom blue stripe represents the South Branch of the Chicago River and the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal.
White Stripes:
The three white stripes symbolize the North, West, and South sides of the city.
Red Stars:
First Star: Represents Fort Dearborn, the original settlement that eventually became Chicago.
Second Star: Represents the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
Third Star: Represents the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893, a major world's fair held in Chicago.
Fourth Star: Represents the Century of Progress International Exposition of 1933.
Six-Pointed Stars:
The six points on each star are not random. Each point symbolizes specific attributes or characteristics related to the event it represents. For example, the points on the Fort Dearborn star represent transportation, labor, commerce, finance, populousness, and health, according to www.chicagopostcardmuseum.org. The points on the star representing the World's Columbian Exposition symbolize religion, education, aesthetics, justice, beneficence, and civic pride.
The Chicago flag features two blue stripes and three white stripes, with four six-pointed red stars on the center white stripe. The stars commemorate significant events in Chicago's history.
Blue Stripes:
The top blue stripe represents Lake Michigan and the Chicago River's North Branch. The bottom blue stripe represents the South Branch of the Chicago River and the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal.
White Stripes:
The three white stripes symbolize the North, West, and South sides of the city.
Red Stars:
First Star: Represents Fort Dearborn, the original settlement that eventually became Chicago.
Second Star: Represents the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
Third Star: Represents the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893, a major world's fair held in Chicago.
Fourth Star: Represents the Century of Progress International Exposition of 1933.
Six-Pointed Stars:
The six points on each star are not random. Each point symbolizes specific attributes or characteristics related to the event it represents. For example, the points on the Fort Dearborn star represent transportation, labor, commerce, finance, populousness, and health, according to www.chicagopostcardmuseum.org. The points on the star representing the World's Columbian Exposition symbolize religion, education, aesthetics, justice, beneficence, and civic pride.
