City of Portland - The City Seal
Official Description
The official seal of the City shall be 1-3/4 inches in diameter
and is described left to right as follows: Three-masted ship,
sails partially unfurled; auxiliary steam stack with smoke extending
to the left; river extends from the left side of the seal slightly
beyond the lower center; central figure of a woman straight front
with face profile looking out on river; right hand holding three
(separate) pronged spear: left hand pointing towards fir forest
with Mt. Hood in background: six-pointed star over head of figure:
cog wheel and sledge hammer at lower right; sheaf of grain at
the right of figure. On the outer rim shall be the words: "City
of Portland, Oregon," and the figures "1851."
The seal was first officially adopted on June 5, 1878. A modern
version of the original seal was standardized and made official
on September 17, 1964.
The female figure in the center of the seal represents Commerce,
while the sheaf of grain, cogwheel, and sledgehammer symbolize
the origins of the city, its culture, agrarian base, and industry.
Raymond Kaskey's 1985 sculpture, Portlandia, was based on the
figure of Lady Commerce from the Portland City Seal.
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History
Versions of the City Seal used by offices during the years between
original adoption in 1878 and standardization in 1964. From documents
in the City of Portland Archives, located at the Stanley
Parr Archives and Records Center.
1880
Seal from the "Annual Report of Officers of the City of Portland
for the year 1879", printed in 1880.
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1881
Seal from an 1881 City of Portland bearer bond.
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1884
(City of East Portland)
Seal from an 1884 City of East Portland bearer bond.
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1891
Seal from an 1891 City of Portland bearer bond.
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1924
Seal from the 1924 City of Portland Department of Public Utilities
letterhead.
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1929
Seal from a 1929 City of Portland street widening bond.
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1941
Seal from the 1941 City of Portland City Auditor letterhead.
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1951
Seal from the 1951 City of Portland Department of Public Works
letterhead.
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