ZFC Item Section - U.S. 49 Star Flag, First to Fly Over Fort McHenry.

Exhibits Title information is available upon specific request. Additional information available upon request to researchers, writers and others demonstrating special circumstances. In some situations, information may not be available.
Exhibition Copy	Exhibition History First Presidio Exhibit (ZFC0072) 49-STAR UNITED STATES FLAG, THE FIRST TO FLY OVER FORT McHENRY Date: 1959 Medium: Cotton; machine sewn Comment: With Alaskas admission into the Union on January 3rd, 1959 as the forty-ninth state, it became necessary to change the star pattern in the United States flag for the first time in forty-seven years. President Dwight D. Eisenhower chose (from among the designs suggested) a pattern of seven staggered rows of seven stars each. The forty-nine star flag became official on July 4th, 1959; however, it would be so for only a year, for on August 21st, 1959, Hawaii was admitted to the Union as the fiftieth state, its star becoming official in the flag on July 4th, 1960. As the custom then or now to officially fly the new flag of the new state joining the union from Fort McHenry in Baltimore, MD. This particular flag was the first forty-nine star flag to be raised over Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor on July 4th, 1959 at 12:05 AM by the officials of the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House of Baltimore, MD. Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0072) in 1996 from the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House Collection of Baltimore, MD. Second Presidio Exhibit, 2003 - GALLERY VI (ZFC0072) 49-Star United States Flag, First to Fly Over Fort McHenry Date: 1959 49 Stars: July 4, 1959-July 3, 1960 (Alaska statehood January 3, 1959) Medium: Cotton; machine-sewn Comment: In 1959, for the first time in 47 years, the United States flag was altered. With the admission of Alaska into the Union on January 3 that year as the forty-ninth state, it became necessary to change the existing star pattern in the canton. President Dwight D. Eisenhower chose (from among the many designs suggested) a pattern of seven staggered rows of seven stars each. The 49-star flag became official on July 4th, 1959, but was soon overtaken by events. It was to serve officially as the nations banner for only a year because on August 21, 1959, Hawaii was admitted to the Union as the fiftieth state. Although its star would not become official as part of the flag until July 4th, 1960, sales of the 49-star flag plummeted once Hawaiian statehood became a certainty. To honor the new state as its flag became official, a special ceremony was held at 12:05 AM on July 4th 1959 at Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland. This particular flag was the first 49-star flag to be raised over that fort in Baltimore Harbor on that special day by the officials of the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House of Baltimore. Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0072) in 1996 from the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House Collection of Baltimore, MD.

Exhibits

Title information is available upon specific request. Additional information available upon request to researchers, writers and others demonstrating special circumstances. In some situations, information may not be available.

Exhibition Copy

Exhibition History
First Presidio Exhibit
(ZFC0072)
49-STAR UNITED STATES FLAG, THE FIRST TO FLY OVER FORT McHENRY
Date: 1959
Medium: Cotton; machine sewn
Comment: With Alaskas admission into the Union on January 3rd, 1959 as the forty-ninth state, it became necessary to change the star pattern in the United States flag for the first time in forty-seven years. President Dwight D. Eisenhower chose (from among the designs suggested) a pattern of seven staggered rows of seven stars each. The forty-nine star flag became official on July 4th, 1959; however, it would be so for only a year, for on August 21st, 1959, Hawaii was admitted to the Union as the fiftieth state, its star becoming official in the flag on July 4th, 1960. As the custom then or now to officially fly the new flag of the new state joining the union from Fort McHenry in Baltimore, MD. This particular flag was the first forty-nine star flag to be raised over Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor on July 4th, 1959 at 12:05 AM by the officials of the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House of Baltimore, MD.
Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0072) in 1996 from the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House Collection of Baltimore, MD.

Second Presidio Exhibit, 2003 - GALLERY VI
(ZFC0072)
49-Star United States Flag, First to Fly Over Fort McHenry

Date: 1959 49 Stars: July 4, 1959-July 3, 1960 (Alaska statehood January 3, 1959)
Medium: Cotton; machine-sewn
Comment: In 1959, for the first time in 47 years, the United States flag was altered. With the admission of Alaska into the Union on January 3 that year as the forty-ninth state, it became necessary to change the existing star pattern in the canton. President Dwight D. Eisenhower chose (from among the many designs suggested) a pattern of seven staggered rows of seven stars each. The 49-star flag became official on July 4th, 1959, but was soon overtaken by events. It was to serve officially as the nations banner for only a year because on August 21, 1959, Hawaii was admitted to the Union as the fiftieth state. Although its star would not become official as part of the flag until July 4th, 1960, sales of the 49-star flag plummeted once Hawaiian statehood became a certainty. To honor the new state as its flag became official, a special ceremony was held at 12:05 AM on July 4th 1959 at Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland. This particular flag was the first 49-star flag to be raised over that fort in Baltimore Harbor on that special day by the officials of the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House of Baltimore.

Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0072) in 1996 from the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House Collection of Baltimore, MD.

Publications Title information is available upon specific request. Additional information available upon request to researchers, writers and others demonstrating special circumstances. In some situations, information may not be available.
Publication Copy	Publication History: Madaus, Howard M., Dr, Whitney Smith, The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord and Conflict. Santa Cruz: VZ Publications, 2006, p. 132. 49-Star United States Flag First to Fly Over Fort McHenry In 1959, for the first time in 47 years, the United States flag was altered. With the admission of Alaska into the Union on January 3 of that year as the forty-ninth state, it became necessary to change the existing star pattern in the canton. President Dwight D. Eisenhower chosefrom among the many designs suggesteda pattern of seven staggered rows of seven stars each. The 49-star flag became official on July 4th, 1959, but was soon overtaken by events. It was to serve officially as the nations banner for only a year because on August 21, 1959, Hawaii was admitted to the Union as the fiftieth state. Although its star would not become official as part of the flag until July 4th, 1960, sales of the 49-star flag plummeted once Hawaiian statehood became a certainty. To honor Alaska as its flag became official, a special ceremony was held at 12:05 AM on July 4th 1959 at Fort McHenry by the officials of the Star- Spangled Banner Flag House of Baltimore, MD. This particular flag was the first 49-star flag to be raised over that fort in Baltimore Harbor, and thus the first to fly officially in the country on that special day. Date: 1959 Size: 34" hoist x 57.5" fly 49 Stars: July 4, 1959 July 3, 1960 (Alaska statehood January 3, 1959) Medium: Cotton; machine-sewn Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection in 1996 from the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House Collection of Baltimore, MD. ZFC0072

Publications

Publication Copy

Publication History:

Madaus, Howard M., Dr, Whitney Smith, The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord and Conflict. Santa Cruz: VZ Publications, 2006, p. 132.

49-Star United States Flag First to Fly Over Fort McHenry

In 1959, for the first time in 47 years, the United States flag was altered. With the admission of Alaska into the Union on January 3 of that year as the forty-ninth state, it became necessary to change the existing star pattern in the canton. President Dwight D. Eisenhower chosefrom among the many designs suggesteda pattern of seven staggered rows of seven stars each. The 49-star flag became official on July 4th, 1959, but was soon overtaken by events. It was to serve officially as the nations banner for only a year because on August 21, 1959, Hawaii was admitted to the Union as the fiftieth state. Although its star would not become official as part of the flag until July 4th, 1960, sales of the 49-star flag plummeted once Hawaiian statehood became a certainty. To honor Alaska as its flag became official, a special ceremony was held at 12:05 AM on July 4th 1959 at Fort McHenry by the officials of the Star- Spangled Banner Flag House of Baltimore, MD. This particular flag was the first 49-star flag to be raised over that fort in Baltimore Harbor, and thus the first to fly officially in the country on that special day.

Date: 1959
Size: 34" hoist x 57.5" fly
49 Stars: July 4, 1959 July 3, 1960 (Alaska statehood January 3, 1959)
Medium: Cotton; machine-sewn
Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection in 1996 from the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House Collection of Baltimore, MD.
ZFC0072