City of Portland
Home | Jobs | Council Agenda | Code | Maps | Video Server | Q&A | Services & Bureaus | Contact Us | Search
 

Form of Government

City Symbols
Seal & Description
  • History

      • 1880
      • 1881
      • 1884
      • 1891
      • 1924
      • 1929
      • 1941
      • 1951
      • Meaning of the Star in the City Seal

City of Portland - The City Seal

a picture of 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.


 
  top
 

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  City of Portland Seal1880
Seal from the "Annual Report of Officers of the City of Portland for the year 1879", printed in 1880.


 top

1881 City of Portland Seal1881
Seal from an 1881 City of Portland bearer bond.


 top

1881 City of Portland Seal1884 (City of East Portland)
Seal from an 1884 City of East Portland bearer bond.


 top

1881 City of Portland Seal1891
Seal from an 1891 City of Portland bearer bond.


 top

1924 City of Portland Seal1924
Seal from the 1924 City of Portland Department of Public Utilities letterhead.


 top

1929 City of Portland Seal1929
Seal from a 1929 City of Portland street widening bond.


 top

1941 City of Portland Seal1941
Seal from the 1941 City of Portland City Auditor letterhead.


 top

1951 City of Portland Seal1951
Seal from the 1951 City of Portland Department of Public Works letterhead.


  top

 

DisclaimerContact UsPortlandOnline last updated this page April 3, 2002 .