The eagle is one of the most powerful and recognizable symbols of American traditional tattooing. As the emblem for the United States of America, it symbolized strength, freedom, and independence. There is more to this design that just partiotism - the eagle represents courage, clear vision, and the drive to rise above challenges. With its sharp eyes and soaring wings, the eagle is a prominent symbol and reminder to look ahead, think clearly, and chase our goals without fear. 

Ship tattoos are deeply rooted in maritime history. Historically, sailors would earn a ship tattoo after making it around the treacherous Cape Horn - as a badge of honor. The design does go beyond its literal meaning. A ship at sea repesents adventure, exploration, and resilience - a life that is spent navigating through calm waters and through rough and raging storms. For many, the ship has become a metaphor for life itself: when things get tough, you keep steering forward with grace and courage. The ship is a classic design that embodies both the excitement of travel and the wisdom that comes from completed journeys. 

The lighthouse has long been regarded as a beacon of safety and hope for sailors out on open water. It is a symbol of guidance and protection - a light that helps sailors find their way home. Many saw the lighthouse as a good luck charm or even a mark of respect for surviving tough journeys. Beyond its nautical roots, the lighthouse reminds us to stay grounded and keep faith during dark times. It is a symbol of perseverance - of holding onto the light that helps you through life's storms. 

Very few designs are as iconic in American traditional as the swallow. Sailors would earn a swallow on their homecoming after travelling 5,000 nautical miles. The meaning of the swallow has come to represent love, loyalty, luck, and the promise of homecoming. As birds always return home year after year, swallows symbolize the idea that no matter how far you travel, there is always somewhere - and someone - to return to.
Swallows have also been associated with legends such as that if a sailor dies as sea, their soul would be carried home by through tattooed swallows. As a design, swallows are a timeless image of freedom, safe passage, hope, and luck. 

The snake is a bold and dynamic design, oftentimes linked to bravery, transformation and protection. A coiled, ready-to-strike snake can also serve as a warning — a “don’t tread on me” statement of strength and self-defense. Snakes were especially popular among sailors and servicemen, representing courage, masculinity, and a willingness to face danger head-on. Whether chosen as a protective charm or a symbol of personal change, the snake remains one of the most striking and meaningful designs in the American traditional style.