15 Star Flag - (1795-1818) (U.S.)

Last modified: 2002-09-28 by rick wyatt
Keywords: fifteen | united states | greasing flagpoles |
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by Mark Sensen, 4 December 1997

• Description of the flag
• Fort McHenry flag
• Fort Niagara flag
• Greasing Flagpoles

See also:

• History of the Stars and Stripes
• U.S. Historical flags
• United States of America

In 1795, two stars were added, representing Kentucky and Vermont, bringing the total number of stars to 15. Two stripes were added to make a total of 15 stripes. This was the only U.S. flag to have fifteen stripes. In 1818, Congress proclaimed that one star for each new state would be added on the 4th of July following the state's admission to the union and there would be thirteen stripes representing the thirteen original colonies. The 15 star flag flew over Fort McHenry during the War of 1812 and inspired the writing of the National Anthem, The Star Spangled Banner.
Rick Wyatt, 5 April 1998

by Dave Martucci, 6 December 1997
Fort McHenry Flag

This is a drawing of what the original Star Spangled Banner looked like. You should note that, like the 13 star flag, this flag existed in many different variations. Anyway, this is the most famous 15 star-15 stripe U.S. Flag and the one our National Anthem was written about. It was flying