As a native of this great city and a Chicago history buff - so to speak - I thought it would be fun to research some of the people, places, things and events that have shaped this town from its humble beginnings as a military fort on the banks of the Chicago River in 1803 to the industrial, architectural, ethnically diverse and economically prosperous powerhouse that it is today. It is only natural for me to start with the flag that flies throughout our great city.
The Stars
William Rice's initial design consisted of just two red stars with six points. Two more stars were added later, creating the flag as we know it today. Interestingly enough, the stars as they appear today do not follow in succession from the time they were added. For example, if you are looking at the flag from left-to-right, the two original stars occupy the middle; the third star to be introduced is on the extreme right and the fourth and final star is on the extreme left in "first" position.
(Why this is the case is a mystery to me, but I will try to track down an explanation soon.)
Each star symbolizes an important event in Chicago history and even the six points have their own special meanings. They are, from left-to-right:
Fort Dearborn: In honor of a military fort built on the banks of the Chicago River in 1803 at present day Michigan Ave. and Wacker Dr. Fort Dearborn is famous (or infamous) for the Fort Dearborn Massacre during the War of 1812 in which 500 Potawatomi Indians ambushed 148 soldiers, woman and children trying to evacuate the fort; killing 86 of them.
The Fort Dearborn star, despite being in first position, was the last star to be added to the Chicago Flag in 1939. Its six points represent transportation, labor, commerce, finance, populousness (in other words, being heavily populated) and salubrity (favorable to or promoting health).
The Great Chicago Fire: The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 burned from Sunday, October 8 through Tuesday, October 10. It killed hundreds and destroyed more than four square miles of the city. Although the Great Chicago Fire was one of the worst human disasters of the 19th Century, it is not memorialized on our flag to remember the tragedy, but to honor its citizen's perseverance. Without it, Chicago would not have been rebuilt into one of the largest and most economically prosperous cities in the country.
The star representing the Great Chicago Fire is one of the originals from Wallace Rice's 1917 design. It occupies the second position and its six points represent the virtues of religion, education, aesthetics, justice, beneficence and civic pride.
The World's Columbian Exposition: Created to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus discovering the new world. Chicago outbid New York, Washington D.C. and St. Louis for the honor of hosting the fair in 1893. Also known as the Chicago World's Fair, the Columbian Exposition showcased a number of new and exciting inventions that hurled Chicago into the forefront of innovation in the areas of architecture, the arts and American Industrialism.
The World's Columbian Exposition star was part of the original 1917 design. Its six points refer to the different political entities Chicago has belonged to and the six different flags that have flown over Chicago since the start of American Colonialism in the 16th century; France (1693), Great Britain (1763), Virginia (1778), the Northwest Territory (1798), Indiana Territory (1802) and Illinois (1818).
The Century of Progress Exposition: The Century of Progress Exposition was the second World's Fair held in Chicago during 1933-1934 to celebrate the city's centennial and mankind's technological innovation. The Fair's motto was "Science Finds, Industry Applies, Man Conforms."
The star representing the Century of Progress Exposition was added to the Chicago Flag in 1933 (the same year as the fair) and its six points essentially represent the city's bragging rights; the United States' 2nd Largest City (became 3rd largest in 1980 census when passed by L.A.), Chicago's Latin Motto (Urbs in horto - City in a garden), Chicago's "I Will" Motto, Great Central Marketplace, Wonder City and Convention City.
Still more to come...