New exhibit celebrates the woman behind Cleveland's historic flag

You’ll find it flying over federal buildings, stitched onto police uniforms, and even waving above the ballpark. The Cleveland flag has long been a symbol of the city, but many don't know the story behind its creation — or the young woman who designed it. Now, more than a century later, both the flag and its creator are being honored in a special exhibit at the Cleveland Public Library's Main Branch, on display through August. The exhibit highlights Susan Hepburn, who designed Cleveland’s official flag in 1895 at just 18 years old. "My great-grandmother was a fascinating person, and I don't think she ever really received a lot of the credit that was due for her," said Kristen Fragassi, Hepburn's great-granddaughter and one of the exhibit's curators. "The Cleveland flag was one of the very first flags for a city in the United States, and she is the first woman designer of a flag." Hepburn's winning design came from a contest organized by The Plain Dealer to commemorate Cleveland's 100th anniversary as a city. Despite skepticism at the time, she beat out her competitors. READ MORE: https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/local/cleveland/new-exhibit-celebrates-woman-cleveland-flag-mike-polk-jr/95-ab5c35a9-ddde-4a79-aa6a-203b87e76c31 At 3News, we’re here to share the stories that matter most to you. Share your ideas, thoughts, concerns and engage in conversations about the communities in which we all call home. Follow 3News on Social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wkyc.channel3/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/wkyc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wkyc3/ Visit our site: https://www.wkyc.com/ And be sure to download our app here: https://wkyc.com/app -- At 3News, we’re not here to tell you the news, we’re here to share the stories that you say matter most to you. Share your ideas, thoughts, concerns and engage in conversations about the communities in which we all call home. Follow 3News on Social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wkyc.channel3/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/wkyc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wkyc3/ Visit our site: https://www.wkyc.com/ And be sure to download our app here: https://wkyc.com/app