The Betsy Ross, Gadsden, and Don't Give Up the Ship flags are three of the designs Americans flew before the 50-star flag.
Long before the familiar 50-star flag, Americans rallied under a patchwork of banners—each one capturing a turning point, a new idea, or the spirit of a region. Many of these historic flags are still flown today. Here's what the best-known designs represent, and what to consider if you want to display one yourself.
Why These Flags Are Still Flown
The America 250 anniversary has renewed interest in early American flag designs, but most of these flags are still flown. Veterans' organizations, historic sites, Revolutionary War reenactors, and private collectors have kept them in continuous use. What has changed is the range of buyers: schools, municipalities, and individuals planning commemorative displays are now looking for accurate reproductions, not just decorative prints. That distinction matters because a flag meant to represent a specific historical design should hold the original's proportions, colors, and construction quality. Thin, screen-printed flags lack the durability and vibrant appearance of high-quality, sewn designs.
The Betsy Ross Flag: Thirteen Stars, One Nation
The Betsy Ross flag is the most recognizable of the early American flags: thirteen stars in a circle, one for each of the founding colonies.
Betsy Ross flag, 1776. Thirteen stars in a circle, one for each original colony.
The design dates to 1776, when Congress called for thirteen stars and thirteen stripes but did not specify how to arrange the stars. Whether Betsy Ross sewed the first one is not confirmed; that account came from her family decades later, and no contemporary records support it. The 13-star circular design became one of the country's first widely recognized symbols regardless.
The Betsy Ross flag is a common choice for patriotic holidays, historic sites, and America 250 displays, and it pairs well with a current 50-star flag. For outdoor use, look for accurate star spacing, correct colors, and a reinforced hoist built for wind.
The "Don't Give Up the Ship" Flag
During the War of 1812, Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry had this flag made to honor his commanding officer, Captain James Lawrence, who was killed in battle.
Don't Give Up the Ship flag, carried into the Battle of Lake Erie in 1813.
Lawrence's reported dying words, "don't give up the ship," were sewn onto the banner and carried into the Battle of Lake Erie in 1813. The first inscription stated "DONT GIVE UP THE SHIP," without an apostrophe. The flag is most often reproduced in deep blue, though conservation work on the surviving original suggests the background may have been tan, brown, or black before the blue was added. Perry won the battle, and the flag became associated with perseverance under pressure.
Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry. Portrait: Naval History and Heritage Command, KN-2579.
The flag is still flown by veterans, military families, and others who identify with that meaning. For outdoor display, a well-made reproduction with legible lettering holds up better than a thin printed version.
View the Don't Give Up the Ship flag →
Other Historical American Flags
The Gadsden Flag
Gadsden flag, 1775. Christopher Gadsden's personal flag as first commander of the Continental Navy.
The Gadsden flag, yellow field, coiled rattlesnake, "Don't Tread on Me," was made in 1775 by Christopher Gadsden. It ranks as the most recognizable Revolutionary-era design after the Betsy Ross flag.
The coiled rattlesnake carries a specific warning. Benjamin Franklin linked the rattlesnake to the colonies decades earlier, noting the snake never strikes without warning but defends itself without mercy once provoked. Gadsden's flag repeats this message: leave the colonies alone, or face the consequences. The coiled pose signals readiness rather than aggression, and the motto beneath spells out the warning directly.
The flag carries strong modern political associations. For a strictly historical display—a Revolutionary War reenactment, a museum exhibit, or a heritage event—that context is well understood. For a school, government building, or public-facing business, it is likely to be read through a contemporary political lens regardless of intent.
The Bennington Flag
Bennington flag, associated with the 1777 Battle of Bennington.
The Bennington flag is one of the most distinctive early American designs: a large "76" in the canton, thirteen stars in an arch, and a white rather than blue canton.
The flag's exact origins and whether it was present at the 1777 battle are debated by historians. Even so, it is a strong choice for Revolutionary War commemorations and Independence Day displays.
The Bedford Flag
Bedford flag, is said to have been carried at the battles of Lexington and Concord in April 1775.
The Bedford flag is one of the oldest surviving American flags, with origins that predate the Revolution. It features a mailed arm holding a sword on a crimson field, with a Latin motto.
The Bedford Minutemen carried the flag in April 1775; though rarely displayed today, this flag stands out as one of the few with a well-documented history predating the Revolution.
The Culpeper Minutemen Flag
Culpeper Minutemen flag, a Virginia colonial militia design.
The Culpeper Minutemen flag, made in 1775, combined the rattlesnake motif with "Liberty or Death" and the name of a militia from Culpeper, Virginia. The design predates the formal founding of the United States.
The flag represents regional colonial resistance in the years before independence, and it pairs well with other Revolutionary-era flags in a multi-flag historical display.
The Pine Tree Flag
Washington's Cruisers flag, "An Appeal to Heaven," New England, 1775.
The Pine Tree flag flew over New England ships and militia units during the Revolutionary era. The version carried by Washington's Cruisers adds the phrase "An Appeal to Heaven," a reference to John Locke's political philosophy.
The phrase signaled that the colonists felt they had reached a point of no return—every peaceful option had been tried and failed. The flag is one of the oldest American flag designs and a distinctive choice for a second flag display.
View the Appeal to Heaven flag →
The Bunker Hill Flag
Bunker Hill flag, a pine tree and cross design tied to the 1775 battle.
The Bunker Hill flag uses a pine tree and cross design associated with that early battle. Historical accounts differ on exactly which flag flew there.
This design is more a tribute to the battle's legacy than an exact replica of any one historical flag. It is a strong choice for New England heritage displays and Revolutionary War commemorations.
Browse the full historical collection →
Which of These Are Okay to Fly Today?
All of them. No federal law restricts which historical flags can be displayed on private property. A few things to keep in mind:
- When flying a historical flag alongside the current U.S. flag, the U.S. flag takes the position of honor, top of a shared pole, or to its own right on side-by-side poles of equal height. See the U.S. Flag Code for the full rules.
- Use a solid pole, secure hardware, and keep the flag off the ground.
- For public or business display, be prepared to explain the flag's history. Most viewers will not recognize designs beyond the Betsy Ross flag.
- Avoid low-cost printed versions on thin polyester; the detail and color quality will not hold up outdoors.
For a full walkthrough of display rules, see our flag display etiquette guide.
Choosing a Material for a Historical Flag
A reproduction flag should hold the original's proportions and colors and be made from material rated for outdoor use. Most historical flags are available in nylon or poly-cotton. Here is how they compare for outdoor display:
- Nylon is the better choice for most outdoor use. It is lightweight, flies in low wind, dries quickly after rain, and holds color well over time. It is the standard material for flags flown daily on a pole.
- Poly-cotton has a heavier, more traditional drape and suits short-term or protected display, a porch, a covered entryway, or a single event. It dries more slowly and is less resistant to extended sun and wind exposure than nylon.
For a full breakdown of flag materials, see our American Flag Materials Guide.
A Few Common Questions
Can I fly a historical flag at half-staff?
Half-staff is a position reserved for the current U.S. flag under specific proclamations from the President or a state governor. There is no established protocol for flying historical flags at half-staff, and doing so could create confusion about the intent. If you are flying a historical flag alongside the U.S. flag during a half-staff period, lower the U.S. flag to half-staff and leave the historical flag at full staff, or take the historical flag down for the duration.
What order do I use if flying multiple historical flags together?
There is no federal protocol governing the order of historical flags relative to each other. A common approach is chronological: flags from earlier periods fly in the position of lesser prominence, with the most recent design closest to the position of honor. When flying any historical flag alongside the current U.S. flag, the U.S. flag always takes the position of honor regardless of the arrangement of the others.
Is the Gadsden flag appropriate for a school or government building?
That depends on the institution and its policies. Several federal agencies have addressed the Gadsden flag specifically in workplace display guidelines, and some school districts have restricted it due to its contemporary political associations. For a private residence or a clearly historical context, the question is largely one of personal judgment. For a public institution, check applicable policies before displaying it.
Related Flag Guides
- American Flag Etiquette Rules, union placement, display hours, handling, and respectful retirement.
- American Flag Materials Guide, nylon, polyester, and cotton compared for outdoor use.
- America 250 Flag Etiquette, how to display the flag correctly for the 250th anniversary.