Flag of Des Moines, Iowa

The Flag of Des Moines, Iowa was designed by Walter T. Proctor. Set on a blue background is a red vertical stripe along the hoist with the right side of the stripe angling inward toward the hoist and a white balance of three horizontal "bridges."

Symbolism

Red stripe

Although there is no documented symbolism for the red stripe, its creator indicated that the selection of the colors red, white and blue were to mirror the color scheme of the flag of the United States of America.

White bridges

The three white "bridges" across the flag symbolize the Grand, Locust, and Walnut Street bridges at the Des Moines River.

Blue background

In the same pane of the flag as the bridges, the blue background symbolizes the water of the Des Moines River.

History

In 1974, the Des Moines City Council had an open submission of proposed City Flag designs. When Walter T. Proctor's design was adopted by the City Council on April 15, 1974, he formalized the importance of the Des Moines River Walnut, Locust, and Grand Street bridges to the City. The flag depicts the, in Proctor's words, "modern bridges" that connect the east and west sides of the City across a key geograpical landmark in Des Moines: Des Moines River.

About the river and bridges

The river flows north/south along the east side of downtown is the center of city services (City hall, armory, library, police station). Des Moines is again developing community attractions around the River by building a multi-million dollar [http://www.principal.com/riverwalk/ urban riverwalk] along the River (largely funded by Principal Financial Group). However, without the unity these bridges create running across this dividing the city in half, Proctor believes the City would be divided by the River.

References

Proctor, Walter T (2004). [http://www.ci.des-moines.ia.us/departments/ac/information/walter%5Fproctor.htm City of Des Moines Website: Walter T. Proctor and the City of Des Moines Flag Design] . Retrieved Nov. 18, 2005.

City of Des Moines Action Center (2004). [http://www.ci.des-moines.ia.us/departments/ac/information/dsm%5Fflag.htm City of Des Moines Website: City of Des Moines Flag] . Retrieved Nov. 18, 2005