Heritage Of America Collection

The Great Seal of The United States of America was originally conceived in 1776 by a committee which was led by Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams. Unable to agree on a final design, it took until June 20, 1782 to get all parties to finally agree on a single, final design submitted by Secretary of Congress Charles Thomson and revised by William Barton. Used to ratify treaties and other agreements at the discretion of the Secretary of State, there have only been three actual Great Seals used since the beginning of our country. Taking nearly six years to finalize, the Great Seal is a collaborative effort of this nation's Founding Fathers conveying their hopes and vison for this great land. The seal features the American bald eagle as its main element, a symbol that represents the American spirit.