U.S. Geological Survey.

This small blue cotton flag was made for use by all survey camps and sometimes vessels of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) of the department of the Interior. The design dates the flag to the 1903 - 1966 period. The construction makes the flag likely to date from the post WWII era; making the likely dates of use 1945 to 1966.

The United States Geological Survey was established by Congress on 3 March 1879. The mission of the USGS was to classify and examine the public's lands and the geological and mineral resources therein.

The flag, or pennant, as it was originally styled by the USGS, was designed in 1903 by USGS employee R.H. Chapman, and in 1904 it became the basis for the identifying buttons worn by USGS personnel. The flag was for display at all times by USGS Survey Camps, to be flown in conjunction with the U.S. Flag.

The design of a white triangle and crossed hammers encircled by13 stars on a blue field represents the original 13 American colonies that created the United States; within the ring of stars is an equilateral triangle, the symbol for a survey control point over which is superimposed a crossed rock hammer & rock pick.

These symbols represent the original divisions of the USGS, the Survey and Geologic Divisions.

These symbols seem to have their origins with the flags utilized by the geologist Clarence King
Who lead the Fortieth Parallel Survey. A boat belong to the expedition was photographed on Nevada's Pyramid Lake displaying the crossed tools on a flag presumed to be the expeditions flag. The background color is reported to have been red.

In 1966 the flag was altered to include a wave under the triangle and tools, representing the Water Resources Division.

ZFC Noteworthy Flag