The Great Seal of the United States took six years and fourteen men to design.

History · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Adopted in 1782, the Great Seal is more than a national emblem; it is a complex heraldic puzzle. From the Eye of Providence to the thirteen arrows and olive branch, every element was meticulously chosen to symbolize the sovereignty, strength, and peaceful intentions of the newly independent American states.

The creation of the Great Seal was a protracted diplomatic effort that began on July 4, 1776, the same day the Continental Congress declared independence. Recognizing the need for an official symbol to formalize international treaties, Congress appointed three successive committees over six years. These groups included prominent figures like Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams, who initially struggled to balance conventional heraldry with revolutionary ideals. It was not until 1782 that the final design, largely crafted by Charles Thomson and William Barton, was officially adopted.

The seal is rich in symbolism, with the number thirteen appearing repeatedly to represent the original states. The obverse features a bald eagle clutching an olive branch and thirteen arrows, signifying a preference for peace while maintaining readiness for war. The reverse displays an unfinished pyramid topped by the Eye of Providence, a motif often misinterpreted by modern conspiracy theorists as evidence of Masonic influence. In reality, the Eye was a common Christian symbol for divine omniscience throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance, and there is no firm evidence that the seal's primary designers were Masons.

Today, the Great Seal remains a functional tool rather than a static image. The Department of State uses a physical press to emboss the seal onto official documents, such as treaty ratifications and ambassadorial appointments, approximately 2,000 to 3,000 times annually. The current press, housed in a locked glass enclosure in the Department Exhibit Hall, was completed in 1904. While the design has seen minor iterations, it remains a testament to the founders' desire to establish a new order of the ages, rooted in the strength and virtue of the American union.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• How a 1945 executive order changed the direction of American power
• The physical weight of sovereignty: how a 6-inch seal rules a nation
• How a Latin phrase for a salad dressing became the motto of a nation
• The American flag was never designed by one person and evolved through many hands.
• Is the All-Seeing Eye a Masonic conspiracy or a symbol of divine oversight?
• The lost secret of Greek fire: a medieval weapon system that burned on water
• Was the Grand Duke who governed Moscow a misunderstood reformer or a rigid reactionary?
• How a group of middle-ranking colonels seized control of Greece in a single night
• The Gorani: A Highland People Caught Between Competing National Identities and Shifting Borders
• Ancient spellbooks from Egypt reveal a world where gods were dangerous and demonic
• How a discarded sugar refinery waste product became the world's oldest branded food item.
• Before Arabic digits, the Greeks used their own alphabet to calculate the cosmos.

More in Empires & civilisations · More in History · Latest · A–Z · All topics