When did Modesto get its city motto? Who came up with it? Bee Curious has the answers
“Water,” “wealth,” “contentment” and “health.”
Those are four words every Modestan knows well.
The words are etched on the iconic Modesto Arch at the intersection of Ninth and I streets.
A reader of The Modesto Bee asked Bee Curious, a community-driven series where reporters answer reader questions — from the mundane to the top of mind — about the Modesto region: “When did Modesto get the motto ‘Water, Wealth, Contentment, Health?’”
Here’s why the motto was chosen and by whom:
What is Modesto’s official motto?
The official motto of the city of Modesto is “Water Wealth, Contentment, Health.”
Although the Modesto Arch displays these four words without any punctuation, “water wealth” is actually one term, not two, the city wrote in an email to The Bee on Wednesday, Nov. 13.
Who came up with the city slogan?
As part of the City Beautiful movement of the 1900s — a response to the rapid urbanization of the 19th century — architects and planners aimed to beautify cities by creating parks and monumental civic structures.
In Modesto, this vision took shape through enduring landmarks, including Graceada Park in 1906, the McHenry Library in 1911 and the iconic Modesto Arch in 1912.
According to city archives, the Modesto Businessmen’s Association proposed the arch in 1911 as an “ornamental and electric arch” spanning I Street at Ninth Street to showcase Modesto’s growing prosperity
To decide on the inscription, the association held a slogan contest.
Though the first-prize entry, “Nobody’s Got Modesto’s Goat,” was memorable, the association instead chose the second-place slogan — “Water Wealth, Contentment, Health” — for its resonance with the community spirit.
S.R. Harbaugh earned a $3 prize for his winning submission.
When was the Modesto Arch dedicated?
Funded by public donations, the 25-foot-tall, 75-foot-wide steel arch was dedicated on March 9, 1912.
It is adorned with 668 lights and illuminates Modesto’s motto each night, symbolizing the city’s pride and growth.
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