A Brief History of Boise’s Flag and Visual Identity
The City of Boise’s current flag design, adopted in 1989, features the Idaho State Capitol building and a grove of trees outlined in white on a blue background. The words “BOISE City of Trees” are displayed on a white band, emphasizing Boise’s identity as a tree-lined city. While the flag’s design was functional and relevant at the time of its creation, some elements, like the Capitol building, no longer fully represent Boise’s identity or the diverse culture of its community today.
The City’s logo, introduced alongside the flag in 1989, has been widely used in both print and digital formats for government applications. Over time, a variation known as the “mark” was introduced in 2016 as part of a visual style guide, offering a simplified version for modern use.
Boise’s official city seal, however, predates both the logo and flag. Designed in 1893 by Max Kohn, the seal features symbols like a beaver, a miner, and a soldier, representing the city’s history and its founding. This seal remains in use today for official government purposes.
As the city evolves, so do the needs for its visual identity. The new flag design aims to better reflect Boise’s shared history, values, and collective identity while creating a modern, inclusive symbol of community pride.