The Wings of Columbia
What does it stand for?
Colors
Navy blue is a trustworthy color, and visually connects the city flag to the flag of the State of South Carolina. It is often associated with knowledge and integrity. Light blue represents freedom, innovation, and tranquility. Together, these evoke a sense of hospitality and stability.
Symbols
A simple bold abstract wing set against a navy-blue field. The star represents Columbia as a capital city. The six points represent resilience, as Columbia has faced many challenges in its history. The three sections of the wing represent the three rivers, all converging together in Columbia and a vital part of the unique identity of the City.
Wings
When Columbia was founded in 1786 as a new planned city to house the South Carolina’s state government, Senator John Lewis Gervais proclaimed that the city would be a place where residents would “find refuge under the wings of Columbia,” referring to a personified Columbia, often depicted as a goddess-like female figure. Since then, wings have continued to be a recurring identifying symbol of the City of Columbia. Wings were represented as part of the city’s “rise from the ashes” following the burning of the city in February 1865 and the Columbia Phoenix, a newspaper that was established in the period following. And, wings continue to be a representative image to this day in connections like the Columbia Fireflies, which are named for the synchronous fireflies in the nearby Congaree Swamp National Park.
The wing on the flag demonstrates that important role the City’s history and present. The wing and the flag of the city offers refuge for all those that choose to live, work and visit Columbia, South Carolina.