History of the American flag: 10 fascinating facts you never knew

Every June 14 in the United States we celebrate Flag Day by hanging the flag outside our homes and participating in parades and other patriotic events. It was on this same day in 1777 that the Second Continental Congress officially adopted our flag as America's national symbol.

The first Flag Day was celebrated in 1877, 100 years after the Continental Congress. However, it was President Woodrow Wilson who finally issued a presidential proclamation establishing June 14 as Flag Day in 1916. A few years later, in 1949, President Harry Truman officially made it a national observance.

Image: Pramod Kotipalli

Have you ever thought about why our flag is red, blue, and white? Yes, we’ve originally taken the colors from the British flag, and although they didn’t have a special meaning in the beginning, over time they took on new significance.

In 1782, Charles Thomson, Secretary of the Continental Congress, presented a proposed U.S. seal. He suggested that each of the colors of the American flag represented something different: white for purity and innocence, blue for perseverance and justice, and red for bravery and valor.

Image: Joshua Hoehne

As the colonies seceded from Great Britain, it became necessary to have a flag to represent the patriotic cause. It is a popular belief that the first American flag was created in 1776 by a seamstress known as Betsy Ross at the request of George Washington, Robert Morris, and George Ross. However, there is no conclusive historical evidence to confirm this theory.

What is certain is that a year later, on June 14, 1777, Congress approved the first official flag composed of 13 red and white stripes representing the American colonies and 13 stars over a blue field symbolizing a constellation.

Image: Gerard Avril

Since that first 1777 version of 13 stripes and 13 stars, the flag of the United States has undergone numerous changes. In fact, over the years, there have been 27 versions of the American flag.

Each time a state was incorporated into the Union, a star was added to the flag. Of the 27 versions, some flew for only a short time, a clear sign of the nation’s rapid expansion. Our current flag has 50 stars representing the 50 states that make up the United States today, but to know the story behind this particular flag you’ll have to keep on reading.

Image: Dan Parlante

The history of great nations is also based on much-needed myths of origin. For many years it was believed that our current flag, one of the most recognizable symbols in the world, had come out of the creative mind of a teenager. According to this version, 17-year-old Robert G. Heft of Lancaster, Ohio had won a contest in 1958 for creating a new flag that represented the growth of the country.

However, this legend was refuted in 2022 by writer Alec Nevala-Lee. The truth is that the 50-star flag we use today was made official in 1960 with the addition of Alaska and Hawaii. The final design was selected by President Dwight D. Eisenhower from among 1500 contenders. At the time, credit for this design was given by the executive department to the United States Army Institute of Heraldry.

Image: Luke Michael

Well, actually, it has a few. Over the years the American flag has received many monickers, including Stars and Stripes and Star-Spangled Banner. But perhaps the most known nickname for our red, white, and blue flag is Old Glory. This name derives from a flag owned by the 19th-century American sea captain William Driver who proudly flew it on his ship throughout his career.

According to historical reconstructions, this flag was sewn by Driver's mother and other women in 1824 and given to him as a gift when he was granted his own ship. It is believed that the Captain, before sailing to China and other places in Asia and the Pacific, uttered the following words, "Behold Old Glory." This flag was preserved and is now part of the collection of the Smithsonian Institution, and can be visited at the National Museum of American History.

Image: Thomas Ashlock

Did you know that the American flag must be displayed backward on military uniforms? This tradition dates back to the early days of the Army. During the Civil War, both cavalry and infantry units had a bearer who was responsible for carrying the standard in combat. After launching an offensive, the impulse would cause the flag to be raised backward.

Since then, the Stars and Stripes have been placed in such a way that the section with the blue field stands on the right. This location makes it possible to create an effect as if the flag were waving before combat.

Image: Jessica Radanavong

Although some may consider it disrespectful, the proper way to dispose of an American flag is to burn it. If the flag can no longer be washed or repaired, ceremonial burning is the correct and respectful way to discard a damaged flag.

It is believed to be illegal to set the flag on fire. As a matter of fact, according to the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, it is unconstitutional for any government to prohibit the cremation of a flag if it was made as a cultural or political statement, due to its status as "symbolic speech."

Image: Anthony Garand

The U.S. flag has flown everywhere the nation has conquered, even the Moon. Probably one of the most iconic images of the 20th century is that of astronaut Buzz Aldrin saluting the American flag during the Apollo 11 mission. It was quite an achievement: in order to get the flag to fly and stay upright in the airless lunar environment, NASA technicians had to design a special mechanism.

In the following three years, 5 other flags were planted on the Moon. But the flag left by Apollo 17 is the most special. It is a piece that had traveled on Apollo 11 and had returned to Earth. It was kept at Mission Control until it was time to return to the place it was destined for: the Moon.

Image: NASA

You probably didn't know this: you can own a flag that has flown over the Capitol. Amazing, right? The Capitol Flag Program began in 1937 and allows citizens to have access to an official flag through the offices of the members of the United States Senate and the House of Representatives.

Flags flown every day on Capitol Hill —except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day— receive a certificate of authenticity before they are delivered. There are currently about 100,000 orders for flags from members of Congress and the number is increasing each year. So now you know, if you want your official capitol flag just contact your local representative or senator!

Image: Adam Michael Szuscik