WRITTEN BY: BILL BOWSER

•  Pre-official flag (Continental Union Flag / Grand Union Flag / Cambridge Flag): This had 13 red-and-white stripes and a British Union Jack in the canton (no stars). It was first flown on December 3, 1775. It served as a de facto flag for the colonies until the official Stars and Stripes replaced it. 

•  First official U.S. flag (13 stars, 13 stripes): Adopted by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777 (now celebrated as Flag Day). It featured 13 white stars in a blue field (representing a “new constellation”) and 13 alternating red-and-white stripes for the original 13 colonies. No Union Jack. This is the foundational “Stars and Stripes.”

•  15-star, 15-stripe flag: Official from May 1, 1795 (authorized by the Flag Act of January 13, 1794). Added for Vermont (March 4, 1791) and Kentucky (June 1, 1792). This is the only official U.S. flag with more than 13 stripes. It flew during the War of 1812 (including over Fort McHenry, inspiring “The Star-Spangled Banner”). 

•  20-star, 13-stripe flag: Official from July 4, 1818 (Flag Act of April 4, 1818, signed by President Monroe). Congress restored the stripes to 13 (to honor the original colonies) and added stars for new states. The five new states were: Tennessee (June 1, 1796), Ohio (March 1, 1803), Louisiana (April 30, 1812), Indiana (December 11, 1816), and Mississippi (December 10, 1817). From this point forward, new stars were added on the next July 4 after a state’s admission (no more extra stripes). 

Subsequent official flag versions (all with 13 stripes and stars added on July 4 following admission):

•  21-star flag: July 4, 1819 — Illinois (December 3, 1818).

•  23-star flag: July 4, 1820 — Alabama (December 14, 1819) and Maine(March 15, 1820). 

•  24-star flag: July 4, 1822 — Missouri (August 10, 1821).

•  25-star flag: July 4, 1836 — Arkansas (June 15, 1836).

•  26-star flag: July 4, 1837 — Michigan (January 26, 1837).

•  27-star flag: July 4, 1845 — Florida (March 3, 1845).

•  28-star flag: July 4, 1846 — Texas (December 29, 1845).

•  29-star flag: July 4, 1847 — Iowa (December 28, 1846).

•  30-star flag: July 4, 1848 — Wisconsin (May 29, 1848).

•  31-star flag: July 4, 1851 — California (September 9, 1850).

•  32-star flag: July 4, 1858 — Minnesota (May 11, 1858).

•  33-star flag: July 4, 1859 — Oregon (February 14, 1859).

•  34-star flag: July 4, 1861 — Kansas (January 29, 1861).

•  35-star flag: July 4, 1863 — West Virginia (June 20, 1863).

•  36-star flag: July 4, 1865 — Nevada (October 31, 1864).

•  37-star flag: July 4, 1867 — Nebraska (March 1, 1867).

•  38-star flag: July 4, 1877 — Colorado (August 1, 1876).

•  43-star flag: July 4, 1890 — Added for North Dakota (November 2, 1889), South Dakota (November 2, 1889), Montana (November 8,      1889), Washington (November 11, 1889), and Idaho (July 3, 1890). This version lasted only one year.

•  44-star flag: July 4, 1891 — Wyoming (July 10, 1890).

•  45-star flag: July 4, 1896 — Utah (January 4, 1896).

•  46-star flag: July 4, 1908 — Oklahoma (November 16, 1907).

•  48-star flag: July 4, 1912 — New Mexico (January 6, 1912) and Arizona(February 14, 1912).

•  49-star flag: July 4, 1959 — Alaska (January 3, 1959).

•  50-star flag: July 4, 1960 — Hawaii (August 21, 1959). This is the current design and has been in use the longest (over 65 years).