For more than 12 years, Boston flew three flags in front of its city hall. The first was the United States flag, followed by the Massachusetts state flag. For the third, Boston usually raised its city flag.
On certain occasions, however, the city would allow local groups to temporarily raise their own flags in the coveted final spot. Flags from such groups as the Chinese Progressive Association and Boston Pride flew for a time, as well as the flags of almost a dozen countries, raised by local cultural organizations.
