Reaching New Heights During a Milestone Year
Massive American flags and patriotic banners at GPO headquarters celebrate America 250, Passport 100, and GPO 165.
For the first time in GPO history, two massive American flags now stretch across the Agency’s Washington, D.C., headquarters, transforming the building into a bold tribute to the nation GPO has proudly served for generations.
The display celebrates three historic milestones taking center stage in 2026: America’s 250th birthday, Passport 100 marking a century of U.S. passport production at GPO, and the Agency’s 165th anniversary.
Alongside the towering American flags, patriotic banners honoring the anniversaries now line the building and street, creating a striking visual reminder of GPO’s long-standing role in supporting democracy, informing the public, and serving the American people since 1861.
The entrance to GPO headquarters on North Capitol Street in Washington, D.C.
The installation is more than decoration. It reflects pride in the country, pride in the Agency’s mission, and pride in the teammates who carry that mission forward every day.
As celebrations continue throughout the year, the display serves as a visible symbol of GPO’s connection to American history, from producing the official documents of democracy to manufacturing passports that have traveled the world for the last 100 years.
From street level to several stories high, the message is unmistakable: this is a landmark year for both the nation and GPO.
The light posts in front of GPO headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Behind the Banners
GPO Designer Sean Downs shares the creative vision behind GPO’s patriotic display
When teammates and visitors look up at the towering patriotic banners now hanging across GPO headquarters, they are seeing more than just oversized graphics. They are seeing the visual identity of a milestone year take shape.
For designer Sean Downs, the project was an opportunity to help bring two major celebrations to life: America 250 and Passport 100.
“It made me feel good to see it on such a large scale where so many people are going to see it,” Downs said. “Not only are we celebrating America 250, but Passport 100 is also a big deal for us as an Agency. To play even a small role in two important milestones made me feel pretty good.”
GPO Designer Sean Downs (pictured above) stands in front of GPO headquarters with the banners he designed to help GPO celebrate America’s 250th birthday.
Downs said the America 250 branding helped guide the overall creative direction for both sets of banners. While the milestones are separate celebrations, he wanted the designs to feel visually connected across the campus.
“It felt like going with the same color combination to tie them together was the best way to go,” Downs said. “Using the stars, stripes, and patriotic elements helped create a consistent feel so the banners belonged together.”
Designing for banners stretching several stories high also required a different creative approach than traditional print or digital work. Downs said simplicity and readability became critical parts of the design process.
“It needed to be simple, not too wordy, and something that could easily be seen from far away,” Downs said. “You’re designing for people walking by, driving by, and even people seeing it from blocks away.”
GPO headquarters in Washington, D.C.
The largest banner measures 14 feet wide by 59 feet tall, making it the biggest project Downs has designed to date.
But for Downs, the banners represent more than a large-scale installation. They also helped establish the visual direction for future America 250 and Passport 100 projects throughout the year.
“These banners were kind of step one and set the pace for everything that comes after it,” Downs said. “From website and social media graphics to conference materials to future Typeline features, this branding is going to carry across a lot of projects in the months ahead.”
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