Last modified: 2023-03-11 by rick wyatt
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7:11
image located by Jan Mertens, 6 April 2007
Based on:
http://eomahaforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=17083
Text and image(s) from American City Flags, Raven 9-10 (2002-2003), courtesy of the North American Vexillological Association, which retains copyright. Image(s) from American City Flags by permission of David B. Martucci.
The field of Omaha’s flag is dark blue with a Native American
sun symbol in the center in gold. Its four sets of three conjoined
gold rays emanate in the four cardinal directions, expanding slightly as
they extend outward. The points of the rays differ: the central ray
comes to a point at its center, while the outer rays come to a point at
their outer edges. The diameter of the circle enclosing the sun symbol
is 4 units on a field of 7 by 11 units. Overlaying the center of the sun
symbol is a red disk, 1.5 units in diameter. Filling most of this disk is a
covered wagon pulled by a team of oxen heading toward the fly, depicted
in white with black shadings. A man leads the horses; two women
are seated at the wagon’s front.
John M. Purcell, American City Flags,
Raven
9-10,
2002-2003
In February of 1958 the Omaha Girl Scouts
thought that the city should have a flag. They contacted the mayor,
John Rosenblatt, who concurred, and asked the girls to come up with a
flag for an All-America City banquet just six weeks away. The troops
did research and proposed two different designs. Elements from both
were combined in the final flag, which was presented at the banquet.
Flag adopted: 18 March 1958 (official).
John M. Purcell, American City Flags,
Raven
9-10,
2002-2003
Heinz Rohde, an artist who combined the ideas into a
final design.
John M. Purcell, American City Flags,
Raven
9-10,
2002-2003
image(s) by permission of David B. Martucci
image(s) from American City Flags,
Raven
9-10 (2002-2003), courtesy of the North American Vexillological Association,
which retains copyright.
While the official flag has no lettering,
words have been added
at various times since, apparently
unofficially. In 1963 CITY OF
was centered horizontally above
the sun symbol and OMAHA,
NEBRASKA ran across the bottom,
all in gold block letters.
The current de facto flag uses the same lettering, but omits the name of
the state.
John M. Purcell, American City Flags,
Raven
9-10,
2002-2003
image by David Sigley, 4 February 2023
I discovered a clipping of the city flag of Omaha that was used from 1927 to
1958. The first flag was adopted on September 18, 1927. The flag was considered
official, though photos of it being used have yet to be found. It was replaced
by the current city flag on March 14, 1958 after a flag contest. I have tried to
find vintage photos from the 30s to the early 50s of parades in Omaha to see if
the city flag was used. I have yet to find any photos with the flag in it.
The flag
is a vertical tri-color of red-gold-green. In the center is the centerpiece of
the seal of Nebraska. Above that is the city name in black, arched downwards
towards the logo.
Photo of the 1927 flag:
https://www.facebook.com/photo
The 1958 Flag design Newspaper article:
https://www.facebook.com/photo
David Sigley, 4 February 2023
image located by Paul Bassinson, 3 October 2019
Source:
http://www.kvnonews.com/
Paul Bassinson, 3 October 2019