Catalog

Year Adopted: 1938.

Approved October 25, 1938, the flag of the District of Columbia consists of three five pointed red stars above two horizontal red bars on a white background. It is based on the design of the coat of arms of George Washington, first used to identify the family in the twelfth century, when one of George Washington's ancestors took possession of Washington Old Hall, then in County Durham, northeast England. For heraldic reasons, the stars are properly called mullets. (ref os.dc.gov, DC Symbols) The flag was designed by graphic designer Charles A.R. Dunn, the result of a flag design contest.

The District of Columbia was established in 1790 when Congress directed selection of a new national capital site, 100 sq mi, along the Potomac River. When the site was determined, it included 30.75 sq mi on the Virginia side of the river. In 1846 Congress returned that area to Virginia, leaving the 68.25 sq mi ceded by Maryland in 1788. The seat of government was transferred from Philadelphia to Washington on Dec. 1, 1800, and President John Adams became the first resident in the White House.