FUN WITH MAPS ISSUE 2024-165

By Steve Kovacs (Introduction by Chuck Gibson)

LOVELAND, OH (September 3, 2024) – In this edition of Fun with Maps we learn about the many variations of our American Flag in history.   

STARS AND STRIPES

The first time the US was flown in battle was at the Coach’s Bridge Revolutionary War Battle in Delaware on September 3, 1777.  The British and their German allies were aiming to capture Philadelphia, the seat of government then, which they subsequently succeeded to do. 

The US had many versions of its flag, mostly driven by the number of states in the Union.  The very first flag did not have stars, including the flag flown at Coach’s Bridge, rather a version of the British Union Jack in the upper left where we now see stars.  This is the Continental Union Flag.

The one constant is the presence of the 13 stripes, representing, well you know.  Oops, there is one exception.  After Vermont and Kentucky joined, there was a variant that had 15 stripes for the 15 states.  This didn’t last long.  Striped out.

There are 28 families of flags over the years, with some having multiple versions of how the stars are arranged – mostly line by line but there are several versions with the stars in circles.  Each successive version just has more stars.  The current version was first used in 1960 after Hawaii became a state one year prior.

Johnson’s map of Delaware and Maryland is presented here from 1865.

Steve Kovacs and his wife Theresa reside in Loveland, Ohio where they raised their two children. He is a passionate collector of antique maps.

Visit his antique map boutique world-on-paper online. Watch for his daily feature Steve Kovacs: Fun with Maps here on Loveland Beacon.