🇺🇸 USA Flag Facts

1. The American flag has had 27 versions

The current 50-star flag is the 27th official design. New stars were added each time a state joined the Union.

2. The current flag was designed by a 17-year-old

High-school student Robert G. Heft created the 50-star design in 1958 for a school project. He originally got a B-, but the grade was later raised after his design was chosen!

3. The 50-star flag is the longest-used design in U.S. history

It has been in use since July 4, 1960, after Hawaii became the 50th state.

4. The flag’s colors have symbolic meanings

• Red = valor & bravery

• White = purity & innocence

• Blue = vigilance, perseverance & justice

5. The flag has specific proportions

The official proportion for many government flags is 10:19 (height to width).

6. There are 13 stripes for a reason

The stripes represent the original 13 colonies that declared independence from Britain in 1776.

7. The flag is also called “Old Glory”

The nickname comes from a 19th-century sea captain named William Driver, who named his flag “Old Glory” in 1831.

8. The U.S. Flag Code sets display rules

The flag should:

• Never touch the ground

• Be illuminated at night if flown continuously

• Be raised briskly and lowered ceremoniously

• Not be used as clothing or bedding

(The Flag Code is a guide and not legally enforceable for civilians.)

9. A special fold is used for ceremonial purposes

The standard 13-fold technique creates a triangular shape meant to resemble a tri-corner hat from the Revolutionary War era.

10. There is a special flag for burial honors

The 5′ × 9.5′ “casket flag” is given to families of deceased veterans or service members.

11. The flag hasn’t always looked the same

Early versions had:

• Different star patterns

• Different numbers of stars

• Occasionally irregular or circular star layouts

There was no single “official” arrangement until 1818.

12. Flags flown over the U.S. Capitol are available to the public

You can request an official flag that has been flown over the Capitol building — a popular gift for veterans and special occasions.

13. The highest permanently flown U.S. flag

A U.S. flag flies at the Moonlight Fire Lookout Station, nearly 10,000 feet high, though many tall skyscrapers also fly enormous flags.

14. The largest freestanding U.S. flags are huge

Some giant commercial flags are:

• 60 × 120 feet

• Weight: up to 350+ pounds

They require specially engineered poles.

15. The U.S. flag has been to the moon

Astronauts planted an American flag on the Moon during the Apollo 11 mission in 1969.