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Lansing, Michigan (U.S.)

Ingham County

2:3 image(s) by permission of David B. Martucci
image(s) from American City Flags, Raven 9-10 (2002-2003), courtesy of the North American Vexillological Association, which retains copyright.

Current Flag
Variant flag
Previous flag
Seal
Police Department

See also:

Current Flag

Text and image(s) from American City Flags, Raven 9-10 (2002-2003), courtesy of the North American Vexillological Association, which retains copyright. Image(s) from American City Flags by permission of David B. Martucci.

Design

Lansing's flag is white with the city seal in the center. On a field of 12 by 18 units, the seal is 9 units in diameter. Immediately within its outer circumference is another circle of 7 units, thus forming a ring around the central device. Curved and centered over the top in black is LANSING, and curved and centered below is MICHIGAN, also in black. The central device depicts the dome of the state capitol, the hoist side in white with black detail, and the fly half black with white detail. Behind the dome is a deep orange sun, whose rays stretch to the circle's edge against a purple sky. Green trees flank the dome on either side, and in front of the capitol flows the Grand River, shown smaller at the hoist and growing gradually larger as it undulates toward the fly.
John M. Purcell, American City Flags, Raven 9-10, 2002-2003

Symbolism

The capitol denotes Lansing's status as the capital of Michigan. The black and white of the capitol dome symbolize the diversity of the community. The orange sun represents hope and opportunity for the future. The sun and the purple sky symbolize the emotional warmth of the city. The green trees suggest Lansing's beautiful neighborhoods. The Grand River is shown in white to demonstrate the city's commitment to keep it clean and protect the environment.
John M. Purcell, American City Flags, Raven 9-10, 2002-2003

Selection

Mayor David Hollister charged the Lansing Image Task Force with developing a plan to improve the city's image. Among its recommendations was the adoption of a new city seal and flag.
Adopted: 17 October 1994 (official)
John M. Purcell, American City Flags, Raven 9-10, 2002-2003

Designer

Unknown.
John M. Purcell, American City Flags, Raven 9-10, 2002-2003

Variant flag

image by CyberFlag, 13 July 2003

This variant of the flag uses a different color palette.
CyberFlag, 13 July 2003

Previous flag

image by Rob Raeside, 31 July 2014

The city's first flag was made in 1969. It consists of a dark blue field with the then-current city seal (which had been in use for more than 100 years) in the center. That seal also has an outer ring, but the edges of that ring are shown as beveled, in gold. In block gold letters curved and centered over the top of the ring is CITY OF LANSING, and below, MICHIGAN. Separating the upper and lower words is a gold star on either side at about 4 and 8 o'clock. The central device shows a brown log cabin with smoke rising from its chimney at the hoist side into a blue sky. In the center is a woodsman, felling a bare brown tree. Behind the tree, on the fly side, is an orange sun on the horizon. The base of the image is green, depicting grass.
John M. Purcell, American City Flags, Raven 9-10, 2002-2003

image by Rob Raeside, 31 July 2014

It's a bit ambiguous in the written description what the ring colour is - it was probably the field colour of the flag, but might be yellow. I attach a possible arrangement.
Rob Raeside, 31 July 2014

Seal

image located by Paul Bassinson, 9 September 2019

Source: https://www.wkar.org
Paul Bassinson, 9 September 2019

Police Department

image located by Paul Bassinson, 13 March 2021

Images of the flag of the Lansing Police Department can be obtained from: https://www.facebook.com/lansingpolicedepartment/photos/3664526053603594 and https://www.facebook.com/lansingpolicedepartment/photos/3489666364422898 respectively
Paul Bassinson, 13 March 2021