Seal of Louisville, Kentucky
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The Seal of Louisville was an emblem used for a visual representation for the city of Louisville, Kentucky. The seal is used to stamp documents to certify their authenticity. The city had four seals from its formation in 1828 to 2003 before its merger with the Jefferson County, Kentucky government and creating a new joint seal.
[edit] History
The first seal established in 1828 had a steamboat ascending the falls heading to a wharf laden with boxes and bales. It was engraved with the words "City of Louisville" at the top and "Perseverando" at the bottom. Perseverando was said to mean "By Persevering" and was apart of the city motto "Industry and punctuality by persevering." This seal would be used until May 6, 1861 when the city council would approve a new seal.[1] The new seal would be inspired by the emergence of the steam locomotive and the Louisville & Nashville Railroad.[2] It entailed a locomotive with the words "Progress" included.
The second seal would remain in place for forty-nine years before the year 1910 when citizens started to feel that the locomotive became an outdated symbol for progress. Resulting in this the Louisville Convention and Publicity League holding a contest. John T. Bauscher was the winner of the contest with the design having a lady holding a banner with the word "progress" on it in one hand and the other hand overflowing with cornucopia.[2] A train and steamboat were on the sides of her and tall building depicted in the background with the words "The Nation's Thorough-fare" on it. This third seal was enacted on December 21, 1910 by the city council.[1]
On November 25, 1953 the cities last seal would become adopted following then mayor Charles Farnsley's campaign for a simpler seal.[2] This seal would be based on the cities origin of its name by implementing three fleur-de-lis in a triangle in the center representing a century of history for each.[2] They were surrounded by thirteen stars representing the original states of the nation and the year 1778 marking the first settlements of the Louisville area. The fleur-de-lis meaning "Lily Flower" was the symbol of french King Louis the XVI the namesake for Louisville.[1]
The current seal used represents Louisville and Jefferson County due to the merger of the governments on January 6, 2003. The seal reads "Louisville Jefferson County" in a circle around a single fleur-de-lis and two stars.
