Flag of San Francisco, California

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The flag depicts a rising phoenix, often assumed to be symbol of the city's recovery from the 1906 Earthquake and Fire but it dates several years earlier to about 1900. San Francisco suffered several devastating fires, including six fires between 1849 and 1852 (the last destroying almost the entire city), along with two earthquakes. Every time the city, just like the mythological bird, "rose from the ashes" and was rebuilt in ever grander style and size.

Below the phoenix is a banner which reads in Spanish: "Oro en Paz-Hierro en Guerra", which translates into: "Gold in Peace, Iron in War". Because of this the official City colors are Gold and Black; these two colors decorate the dome of City Hall.

The yellow border, now reproduced as a part of the flag was originally intended to be a gold fringe, but mistakenly became incorporated into the design. When used indoors, as is the custom, a gold fringe is added to what should have been fringe in the first place.