🏴 3' x 5' Chicago Municipal Device flag with grommets and double-stitched edges to reduce fraying. ✍️ The Design: The historic Chicago Municipal Device flag is a deeply rooted piece of Midwestern civic history. Its core emblem originated in 1892 during a Chicago Tribune contest to design a flag for the city. Designed by Alfred J. Råvad, this layout served as a popular unofficial banner during the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, flying proudly alongside international displays like the Spain flag. While the city later adopted the famous four-starred design for its official banner, the city council formally enshrined this Y-shaped symbol into the municipal code in 1917. The standout feature of the flag is the central "Y" shape inscribed inside a circle, known simply as the Municipal Device. This emblem represents the North, South, and Main branches of the Chicago River meeting at their historic confluence at Wolf Point. The design was intentionally created for public reuse to foster community pride, and it can still be found today carved into the architecture, bridges, and theaters throughout the city.
