A thoughtful mind, when it sees a Nation's flag, sees not the flag only, but the Nation itself; and whatever may be its symbols, its insignia, he reads chiefly in the flag the Government, the principles, the truths, the history which belongs to the Nation which belongs to the Nation that sets it forth.

---Henry Ward Beecher---

Betsy Ross
In 1776 George Washington and two representatives of Congress, Colonel Ross and Robert Morris, asked Betsy Ross to make a flag according to a rough drawing they carried with them. At Mrs.Ross's suggestion, stars with five points were used instead of six.

Bennington
Used in the Battle of Bennington, August 16, 1777 by the American militia. Led by General John Stark, they defeated a large British raiding force, thus protecting the military supplies at Bennington.

The First Official United States Flag: This 13-Star Flag became the Official United States Flag on June14th, 1777.

The Star Spangled Banner: This Flag became the Official United States Flag on May 1st,1795. Two stars were added for the admission of Vermont (the 14th State on March 4th, 1791) and Kentucky (the 15th State on June 1st, 1792.

The 1818 Flag: Realizing that the addition of a new star and new stripe for each new State was impractical, Congress passed the Flag Act of 1818 which returned the flag design to 13 stripes and specified 20 stars for the 20 states.

This Flag became the Official United States Flag on April 13th, 1818. Five stars were added for the admission of Tennessee (the 16th State on June 1st, 1796), Ohio (the 17th State on March 1st, 1803), Louisiana (the 18th State on April 30th, 1812), Indiana (the 19th State on December 11th, 1816), and Mississippi (the 20th State on December 10, 1817).

The 21-Star Flag: This Flag became the Official United States Flag on July 4th,1819.  A star was added for the admission of Illinois (December 3rd, 1818).

The 23-Star Flag: This Flag became the Official United States Flag on July 4th, 1820. Two stars were added for the admission of Alabama (the 22nd state on December 14th,1819) and Maine (the 23rd state on March 15, 1820.

The 24-Star Flag: This Flag became the Official United States Flag on July 4th,1822. A star was added for the admission of Missouri (August 10th, 1821).

The 25-Star Flag: This Flag became the Official United States Flag on July 4th, 1836. A star was added for the admission of Arkansas (June 15th, 1836).

The 26-Star Flag: This Flag became the Official United States Flag on July 4th, 1837. A star was added for the admission of Michigan  (January 26th,1837).

The 27-Star Flag: This Flag became the Official United States Flag on July 4th, 1845.  A star was added for the admission of Florida.

The 28-Star Flag: This Flag became the Official United States Flag on July 4th, 1846. A star was added for the admission of Texas (December 29th, 1845).

The 29-Star Flag: This Flag became the Official United States Flag on July 4th, 1847.  A star was added for the admission of Iowa  (December 28th, 1846).

The 30-Star Flag: This Flag became the Official United States Flag on July 4th, 1848.  A star was added for the admission of Wisconsin (May 29th, 1848).

The 31-Star Flag: This Flag became the Official United States Flag on July 4th 1851.  A star was added for the admission of California (September 9th, 1850).

The 32-Star Flag: This Flag became the Official United States Flag on July 4th, 1858.  A star was added for the admission of Minnesota (May 11, 1858).

The 33-Star Flag: This Flag became the Official United States Flag on July 4th, 1859.  A star was added for the admission of Oregon (February 14, 1859).

The 34-Star Flag: This Flag became the Official United States Flag on July 4th, 1861.  A star was added for the admission of Kansas (January 29th, 1861).

The 35-Star Flag: This Flag became the Official United States Flag on July 4th, 1863.  A star was added for the admission of West Virginia  (June 20th, 1863).

The 36-Star Flag: This Flag became the Official United States Flag on July 4th, 1865.  A star was added for the admission of Nevada (October 31st, 1864).

The 37-Star Flag: This Flag became the Official United States Flag on July 4th 1867.  A star was added for the admission of Nebraska (March 1st,1867).

The 38-Star Flag: This Flag became the Official United States Flag on July 4th, 1877.  A star was added for the admission of Colorado (August 1st 1876).

The 43-Star Flag: This Flag became the Official United States Flag on July 4th, 1890. Five stars were added for the admission of North Dakota (the 39th State on November 2nd,1889), South Dakota (the 40th State on November 2nd,1889), Montana (the 41st State on November 8th,1889), Washington (the 42nd State on November 11th,1889), and Idaho (the 43rd State on July 3rd, 1890).

The 44-Star Flag: This Flag became the Official United States Flag on July 4th, 1891. A star was added for the admission of Wyoming (July 10, 1890).

The 45-Star Flag: This Flag became the Official United States Flag on July 4th, 1896. A star was added for the admission of Utah on January 4th, 1896.

The 46 Star Flag: On July 4,1908, the U.S. flag grew to 46 stars with the addition to the Union of Oklahoma (November 16, 1907).

The 48 Star Flag: On July 4,1912, the U.S. flag grew to 48 stars with the addition of New Mexico (January 6th, 1912) and Arizona (February 14, 1912).

49-Star Flag: On January 3rd,1959 Alaska was formally granted statehood placing the 49th star on our Flag.

50-Star Flag: Executive Order of President Eisenhower dated August 21, 1959 - provided for the arrangement of the stars in nine rows of stars staggered horizon tally and eleven rows of stars staggered vertically. This is the current flag of the United States. Hawaii was admitted as the 50th state on August 21st, 1959. The 27th flag of the United States became the official flag on July 4th, 1960.

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