The flag of Guam was introduced in 1917 by the then acting Governor, but was officially adopted not until 1948. It is dark blue and shows the seal of the island in the middle. Since 1960 it is surrounded by a narrow red border. The blue stands for the Pacific the red edge for the blood which was given by the Chamorro. The flag may only be hoisted next to the flag of the USA.
The seal of Guam is a red-bordered, pointed, vertical ellipse containing a beach scene: the mouth of the Agana River close to the capital, furthermore an outrigger canoe with a sail, a palm tree, and the word "GUAM" superimposed in bold red letters. The seal was – like the flag – introduced in 1917, but was officially adoped not until the year 1930.
ca. 2000 B.C. · settlement of the island from the east/southeast direction
1521 · the Portuguese sailor Magellan discovers the island
1526 · the Spanish navigator Loaisa visits the island
1565 · Miguel López de Legazpi takes Guam in possession for Spain
1668 · Jesuits begin to Christianize the island, the entire Spanish Ladrones Archipelago is renamed by them to Mariana Islands after Marianne of Austria, the widow of Spain's King Philip IV.
1898 · in result of the Spanish-US-American war take over by the USA
