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An American flag flying in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Noah Wulf on

10 Sensational Facts about the American Flag

When the American Revolution began, the first unofficial American National Flag called Continental Colors or Grand Union was hoisted on a 76-foot liberty pole at Prospect Hill in Charlestown, Massachusetts, on  1st January, 1776.

The Continental Congress approved the first American National Flag which had stars and stripes. The flag is the nation’s most recognized powerful symbol and it’s flown on many occasions.

Learn more about the American Flag in these 10 sensational facts.

1. The American Flag was Adopted in 1777

On 14th  June , 1777, the second Continental Congress passed the flag resolution. Scholars debate that the first flag was adopted in June 1777 by the Continental Army at the Middlebrook encampment.

The adopted flag by congress displayed 13 stripes and 13 stars for the 13 original colonies.

The first official American flag was flown during the battle on 3rd August , 1777 at Fort Schuyler (Fort Stanwix) during the Siege of Fort Stanwix. Massachusetts Reinforcement brought news of the adoption by the congress of the official flag by Fort Schuyler.

2. There have been 27 Versions of the American Flag

The first flag started to be used in 1776 after the Declaration of Independence in July 1776. The original flag had 13 stars and 13 stripes for the American colonies.

Since 1776 the flag has undergone many changes and alterations. Whenever a new state was added to the Union, a star was added to the flag.

The present day flag has 50 stars and 13 stripes. The 50 stars represent each of the 50 states in the United States and the 13 stripes represent the original colonies that became the first states in the Union.

According to the National Flag Foundation, there has been 27 versions of the American flag. The 50 stars were ordered on August 21, 1959, by then president Eisenhower and adopted in July 1960. This version has been in use for over 62 years.

3. The Colors of the Flag have Meaning

Photo by Mrrebell1453 on

The founding fathers wanted the Flag’s chosen colors to have meaning.

Red symbolizes hardiness and valor, white symbolizes purity and innocence while blue represents vigilance, perseverance and justice.

The flag’s colors are specified in line with the Color Association of the United States (CAUS) Standard Color Reference of America, 10th edition. The CIE coordinated the colors of the 9th edition of the standard color and were formally specified in Journal of the Optical Society of America (JOSA) in 1946.

4. Francis Hopkinson was the Designer of the American Flag

The American Flag was designed by Francis Hopkinson of New Jersey.  He was a naval flag designer and he also signed the Declaration of Independence.

Hopkinson did not only claim to design a flag for the United States but also a flag for the U.S Navy. 

His claims are documented in the journal of the Continental Congress and George Hasting’s biography of Hopkinson. The remnants of the Hopkinson flag of seven white stripes and six red stripes can be found in the great seal of the United States and the presidential seal..

5. The Celebration of the Flag was Invented by a Teacher

In 1885, Bernard J. Cigrand, a grade school teacher in Waubeka, Wisconsin, held the first recognized formal observation of Flag Day at the Stony Hill School.

From late 1880, Cigrand spoke around the country, promoting patriotism and respect for the Flag. He insisted on the need for a Flag Day on June 14,  1777 the same day Continental Congress adopted the stars and stripes.

In June 1894, on the third Saturday, a public-school children’s Flag Day celebration took place in Chicago at Douglas, Garfield, Humboltd, Washington Parks and Lincoln. It had more than 300, 000 children participating.

Cigrand school was re-established and a bust  of Cigrand erected in his honor at the Americanism Center in Waubeka.

6. There are 6 American Flags on the Moon

American Flag placed during Apollo 15 Mission.

Six American  Flags have been placed on the moon, but only five are standing.

Six crewed missions have successfully landed on the moon at various locations and each had a flag raised at the site.

When the ascent stage was launched to return the astronauts to their Command Module Columbia for return to earth, the exhaust gases blew over the original flag placed there by Neil Armstrong.

Though it is not well known if the flag survived the heat of the blast but in Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter images of Tranquility Base, there’s clearly no flagpole still standing.

7. Betsy Ross May not be the Flag’s Real Designer

Betsy regularly suggested she sewed the first stars and stripes of the flag at the government’s request in 1776, but there is little evidence to support the claim.

The apocryphal story credits Betsy for sewing the first flag from a pencil sketch handed to her by George Washington, but no evidence exists in George’s diaries or the Continental Congress records.

Betsy’s grandson presented statements by his own family in 1870, but there’s no proof beyond that.

Most historians transfer credit to Francis Hopkinson – who is mentioned as the American Flag designer in journals from the Continental Congress.

8. A Student Designed the Current Flag

Julie Clark taxiing with American Flag. Photo by Noah Wulf on

When Alaska and Hawaii gained their statehood in 1950s, a contest was held to re-design the American Flag. A total of 1500  flag designs were submitted to President Dwight D. Eisenhower and 17-year-old Robert G. Heft’s  design was chosen.

Heft created a 50 stars and 13 stripes flag, which President Dwight D. Eisenhower chose.

It is claimed that Heft designed the flag as part of a school project. He is said to have received a  grade of  B- for it. It is also said that he wasn’t satisfied with the grade awarded and he negotiated with his teacher to raise the grade in the event that his design won the contest. It isn’t confirmed if the teacher made good on this promise.

9. The Display of the American Flag

The American flag is customarily flown year-round at most public and private buildings. The flag is flown widely more especially during  National Days  like Memorial Day, Veteran Day and President Day.

The flag can be displayed on vehicles where it is fixed on the right side of the vehicle. It should be oriented such that the canton is towards the front of the vehicle.

It is also displayed on uniforms such as the United States Military Uniforms. On this, the flag patches are worn on the right shoulder.

10. The Flag Can be Displayed for all 24 hours

In Federal Law, the American flag should be displayed from sunrise to sunset unless inclement weather occurs.

When the flag is to be flown for 24 hours, proper illumination is required for the flag to be seen in the dark.