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Anchorage, Alaska (U.S.)

City and Borough

image by António Martins-Tuválkin, 26 January 2008
based on image from www.muni.org/iceimages/Mayor/DeptBannerBigMayor.gif

Description of the flag

See also:

Description of the Flag

I have received reliable information from Mayor Bill Botelho of Juneau, Alaska, that there is indeed an Anchorage flag. Mayor Botelho merely states that it consists of a large anchor prominently displayed, but he provides no information as to its background, etc. As the Anchorage Web Site does depict a large blue anchor with a golden sailing ship flying what appears to be an ensign impaled upon the shank of the anchor as its municipal seal, I would guess that it is this emblem used as a logo which constitutes the Anchorage flag, although Mayor Botelho provided no details regarding the color of the flag itself.
Ron Lahav, 16 April 2004

Having been a former resident, it is simply the seal of the city (featuring the anchor) on a yellow field.
David C. Fowler, 16 April 2004

The ship is likely the HMS Resolution, a British ship under the control of the famous Captain James Cook on his final voyage of exploration in the Pacific. The city of Anchorage gets its name because Captain Cook anchored adjacent to where the city center is now located. He wrote "anchorage" on his maps. It is a very interesting story (which I won't include here), and explains many of the unusual geographic names in the area.
Michael Wilson, 17 May 2004

The city flag is reported in use in and after July 26, 2005, half-staffed as a sign of mourning for slain denizens: "City flags flew at half-staff last week" at www.muni.org/MayorNews/MTP20050801.cfm and "City flags lowered" at www.muni.org/Mayor/press_release_20050726.cfm.
António Martins-Tuválkin, 26 January 2008

Having lived in Anchorage, I can tell you that it was in use at least as early as 1980, and probably dating to the incorporation of the municipality in the 1970s.
David C. Fowler, 26 January 2008