12 American Flag Designs That Almost Changed History

The American flag is one of history’s most iconic symbols. Its red, white, and blue stripes, along with fifty stars, instantly represent freedom, democracy, and national pride. But did you know that the flag we all recognize today didn’t become official until 1960?

Before the final design was approved, the American flag went through countless iterations and redesigns, some of which were wildly creative, or downright strange. One of the most significant periods in the flag’s history came during the Eisenhower era, when Alaska and Hawaii joined the union. Citizens were so excited to be part of history that thousands of unsolicited flag designs flooded President Eisenhower’s office. You could say this was one of the earliest examples of crowdsourcing in action.

Let’s revisit twelve flag designs that didn’t quite make the cut.

12. The Eagle and the Star

This design, from an anonymous creator, took inspiration from military flags. The stars formed a large central star, with the American Bald Eagle in the middle. The stripes remained the same as today’s flag, but the design never got approval.

11. Star-Studded

Instead of the blue field, this version featured red stripes over a white background filled with stars, including a massive central star representing the largest and smallest states. At the bottom, poetry read: “From the state that is large, to the one that is small; All fifty offer peace and goodwill to one and to all.”

10. The Doppelganger

An unusual take included the mainland US map in blue, dotted with white stars for each state. However, intersecting red lines behind the map made it look a lot like the UK’s Union Flag, which probably sealed its rejection.

9. The Quick Fix

This rushed design had the standard stripes and blue field but only thirteen stars, with a giant “50” in the center. It looked more like a gag than a serious flag, so it didn’t last.

8. The Torch

A patriotic 17-year-old student from New Jersey arranged the stars in a circle around a hand holding a white torch with a red flame, likely inspired by the Statue of Liberty. A truly youthful and creative take on the classic layout.

7. Minor Improvements

Estell Arthur Owens submitted a design rearranging the stars to form 1776, the year of the Declaration of Independence and the year Betsy Ross supposedly sewed Old Glory. A subtle but meaningful tweak.

6. The Geographer’s Dream

This design placed a map of the continental US in the blue field, plotting each star according to its state’s location, with Hawaii and Alaska positioned above. A geographically inspired but ultimately impractical idea.

5. A Complete Overhaul

Gertrude Brofman’s brother submitted a geometric redesign featuring a large star with “USA” in the center. Cleverly, the pattern read the same no matter how the flag was flipped. Innovative, but too radical for adoption.

4. No Space Wasted

The blue field extended the full height of the flag, arranging the stars in columns instead of rows. Despite good intentions, it looked cluttered and messy, so it wasn’t selected.

3. What’s a Motto With You?

Stars were rearranged to include the US motto “In God We Trust” at the bottom. It kept the traditional layout but added a patriotic phrase directly to the flag.

2. Round and Round the Stars

Another straightforward design placed the fifty stars in concentric circles, which confused the eye more than it enhanced the flag’s visual appeal.

1. The United States of Nations

Perhaps the boldest idea: incorporating the United Nations logo in the blue field while keeping the stripes intact. While symbolic of global unity, it was too far from the traditional flag to gain approval.

Why the American Flag Endures

It’s incredible to think about the creativity and effort people put into designing these flags. While many proposals were rejected, the classic layout we know today stands the test of time, simple, meaningful, and instantly recognizable.

The next time you see Old Glory, remember the stories, the creativity, and the history behind it. Could the US have flown a very different flag? Maybe, but it seems the original design was meant to last.

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American flag, Old Glory, United States flag, flag designs, Eisenhower era, history of the flag.