Caltrans History Preservation Committee

Department Logos & Mottos: A Brief History

Division of Highways Seal

In 1924 the California Highway Commission adopted this seal. It later became the seal for the California Division of Highways, when the Division was established in 1927. This symbol has been known affectionately as the “Flying Tomato”.

The seal was designed by E.M. Muse of the department’s testing laboratory. He won a $25 prize for his design, besting engineers from several other units in the department. Mr. Muse’s explanation of the symbols used in the logo was as follows: the transit is the dominant symbol and typifies Science, the pick and shovel represent Labor, and the winged wheel represent Transportation and Speed. (The Library has a poster showing all of the 1921 contest entries.)

The Latin slogan on the seal, “Robur Directum Scientia Est via Fortunae”, has had many translations over the years. Below is a listing of some of these with links to the articles from department publications that discussed the suggested translation.

• 1924: "Energy Directed by Science is the Highway to Prosperity" (California Highways, December 1924, page 14).
  
  
• 1956: "Labor Directed by Science is the Way to Fortune" (CHPW, Jan-Feb 1956, page 55.)

• 1964: "Strength Guided by Knowledge is the Way to Fortune" (CHPW, May-June 1964, page 71.)

• 1990: District 10 Public Affairs newsletter, From the Front Office, March 1990, page 5 provides several additional interpretations, including: "Upright strength is knowledge, the path of prosperity."

Caltrans Logo

In 1973, the Department of Public Works, Division of Highways was reorganized and transformed into the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). A new emblem, the "CT" logo was introduced. It was created by Caltrans graphic designer Dave Douglas.

An article describing the adoption of the logo as a new Departmental "signature" was printed in the Caltrans Administrative Services Newsletter, September 4, 1973.