Lady Columbia & Our Columbia Cotton American Flags
Often referred to as simply, “Columbia”, Lady Columbia pre-dates Lady Liberty as the female personification of the United States. She shares her name with many American institutions and places, including Columbia Pictures, the District of Columbia, Columbia University and, now our, new line of American Flags, but who is she, what are the origins of her name, and why does she share it with so many?
Who is Lady Columbia?
Similar to the more commonly recognized Uncle Sam, Lady Columbia is a central figure, albeit fictitious, in the narrative of the United States. Her origins can be traced back to the 18th century, where she is referenced in poetry and artwork. She rose in popularity during the 1800s, but fell out of favor when the Statue of Liberty gained prominence in the 1890s.
Modeled after Greek mythology, but with a distinct essence of Americanism, Columbia is both strong and beautiful. However, her reputation and physical appearance were never standardized. She was ever-evolving to match the sentiments and mood of a growing nation. At times audacious, Columbia represented to the pursuit of freedom, war and territorial expansion. Yet, in other portrayals she is pure, almost ethereal and even religious in nature.
Where did Lady Columbia Get Her Name?
The name Columbia is also a historical reference applied to the Americas and the New World. It first appeared in print in 1738, and is believed to have been coined by Samuel Johnson. It is derived from the name of the Italian Explorer Christopher Columbus, and the Latin ending of “ia” commonly used in the naming of countries.
By the 1760s, Columbia had become an alternate name for America, and although it never received consideration as an official name for the newly independent United States, it was consistently used to represent American identity. The adjective, “Columbian”, has been used to mean, “of or from the United States of America”, such as in the 1893 World’s Columbian Fair in Chicago IL., and at least 20 cities in the U.S. bear the name.
New Line of American Flags Named After Lady Columbia
Given the historical ties to American identity, Columbia seemed like an apropos name for our newest line of American flags. Made of traditional 2-ply woven cotton fabric, like the flags of years ago, our Columbia Cotton American Flags have a truly historic look and feel.
Ideal for framing or use in memorial flag cases, each Columbia Cotton Flag is made in the USA and features an off-white Heritage header, embroidered stars, sewn stripes and double needle stitching throughout, as well as 4 rows of reinforced fly end stitching, making it durable enough for outdoor use.
It’s the perfect flag for those who embrace American roots, values and foundations. And we think Lady Columbia would be proud to share her name with it.