rhode island

The seal of the State of Rhode Island features a maritime anchor as its central image. The anchor has been used as a symbol for Rhode Island for hundreds of years, well before the region claimed statehood. When the Providence Plantations were organized in the mid 1600’s, the anchor was used then as the seal of the province. The anchor is also the prominent image on Rhode Island’s flag. The word “Hope” was placed over the seal’s anchor in 1644, and still remains. The outer circle of the seal reads “Seal of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations 1636”.