the town of yarmouth
seal of approval
a welcome update
The Town of Yarmouth, nestled in the heart of Cape Cod, recognized that its official town seal was outdated with an historically inaccurate depiction of an indigenous person and dwelling. This disconnect was compounded by inconsistent usage across various departments in the town. Like many other municipalities, Yarmouth realized its seal needed to be updated to represent the town appropriately. The question became how to depict this effectively.
history reimagined
Working with the Town Seal Committee headed by former Yarmouth Town Administrator Bob Lawton using research provided by George Slama of the Yarmouth Historical Commission, Visual Dialogue reimagined the outdated seal, creating a striking design incorporating Yarmouth’s rich heritage while maintaining a timeless look.
compelling & correct
The traditional scratchboard artwork by illustrator Polly Becker is a nod to the town’s history (incorporated in 1639!). The Point Gammon lighthouse and two-masted schooner from the original seal are now enlarged on a background of sky (Mattacheese=Wampanoag for “great sky”) and water (Yarmouth is surrounded by the Nantucket Sound, Cape Cod Bay, and the Bass River). The Eastern White Pine—a key icon of the Wampanoag creation story—moves from the periphery to a centered location, replacing the stereotypical and culturally insensitive depiction of a Native American figure with a teepee (there were never teepees on Cape Cod).
“Remarkably beautiful”– cape cod times
a community effort
The two-year process included a town-wide survey of residents, many community input meetings, and presentation to the Select Board leading up to near-unanimous approval at the Annual Town Meeting. The new seal has been overwhelmingly welcomed and is rolling out in applications all over the town, while also inspiring other communities to follow this lead.
