Built on the same foundation as the city, this flag was designed using the humble grid system that was core to the development of Salt Lake City.
Two peaks represent the Wasatch Range and Oquirrh Mountains that produce the unique geography of this valley.
Between this valley lies what is at the heart of this city: a refuge. This Shield of Refuge recognizes what this city means for those who fled persecution in 1847, and today, the many who find hope here as we welcome refugees from around the world.
At the center of the shield, a five-point star recognizes each of the major tribes that cared for and inhabited this land before any of us: the Ute, Paiute, Goshute, Navajo, and Shoshone. Additionally, the star highlights the status of Salt Lake City as the capital of the great state of Utah.
This shield also interacts with its environment as it points down towards the cherished land the flag waves over as a symbolic proclamation of “this is the place.”
The ivory depicts its namesake salt while the deep indigo and amber showcase the mosaic of a resting sun that can be appreciated from anywhere in the valley.
An aerial view of the Salt Lake Valley grid system from NASA
Modification of the first design with mountain contours that mimic the sego pedal and a different meaning for the star intended to capture the flourishing nature of this growing city.
2020
