Historic Flags

Choose from our wide array of historical American flags shown below. The stars on many of our historic flags are unilaterally representative of the original thirteen colonies. The short but dynamic history of the United States is clearly represented in its historic flags; from the Bennington Flag and the Betsy Ross flag to the maritime insignia flags that have helped America fend off her enemies on the sea. No matter the material or size you choose, collectively these historic flags have become a narrative of American history.

After the successful outcome of the American Revolution, American flags mainly bore stars and stripes, though their configuration could be very different, especially early on. The Bennington Flag as well as the Betsy Ross Flag are two perfect examples: both have thirteen stars and thirteen stripes of alternating red and white, but their layout is completely different.

Before the establishment of the Flag Act by the Continental Congress in 1777, different symbols and images were utilized to create flags for American colonies, states, citizens, and organizations. One was the Grand Union Flag, which incorporated the Union Jack and the flag of Great Britain, which is itself a combination of the English St George's Cross and the Scottish St Andrews' cross, both layered over each other and a blue background. Another popular image was that of a rattlesnake. In an effort to bring the colonies together for the Revolution, Benjamin Franklin portrayed the young America as a rattlesnake that had been cut into eight pieces. The Gadsden Flag also incorporates a coiled rattlesnake which is accompanied by the words "Don't Tread on Me".

The American flag is indubitably that which has united the country, but there have been many historical American flags before it. Understanding where this flag comes from, and indeed where the flags before it came from as well, gives us a deeper understanding of modern American history.