1972 Emblem Hat

If this design looks familiar, you’ve probably been here for a while. This was on the official City of Tacoma flag from 1972 until 1991 when they adopted the current (and far less cool) design.

According to American City Flags by John M. Purcell, the upper portion shows “a stylized Mount Rainier” with the lower portion representing Commencement Bay. As for the rest of it, “the rainbow symbolizes the bridge of communication; the seagull, the union of sky and abundant waters; and the circle, the timeless union of these qualities leading to a bright future.”