15-star, 15-stripe flag flown over Fort McHenry — Includes certificate

Updated October 18: These have all been sold.

Flown at Fort McHenry. Includes certificate with the date flown.

Very durable, high-quality 3′ x 5′ nylon flags with 15 stars and 15 stripes. Made in America by Annin Flagmakers, with white polyester duck heading and brass grommets. 

The 15-star, 15-stripe flag flying over Fort McHenry in 1814 inspired Francis Scott Key to write the verses that officially became our national anthem on March 3, 1931. See below for additional historical background, including about a great book from a friend of ours.

Size: 3′ x 5′

Available in two types:

• 15-star, 15-stripe flag with embroidered stars and sewn stripes
• 15-star, 15-stripe flag with printed stars and stripes

Historical Background

Tom McMillan has written a great book about the history of the flag that was flown at Fort McHenry, Our Flag Was Still There: The Star Spangled Banner that Survived the British and 200 Years―And the Armistead Family Who Saved It. He spoke with us about it on a History Camp Author Discussion in July 2023 (video) and gave a presentation at History Camp Boston that August (video). — Lee Wright | Founder

The information below is from USAFlag.org:

“This flag became the Official United States Flag on May 1, 1795. Two stars were added for the admission of Vermont (the 14th State on March 4th, 1791) and Kentucky (the 15th State on June 1st, 1792, and was to last for 23 years. The five Presidents who served under this flag were; George Washington (1789-1797), John Adams (1797-1801), Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809), James Madison (1809-1817), and James Monroe (1817-1825).

The 15-star, 15-stripe flag was authorized by the Flag Act of January 13, 1794, adding two stripes and two stars. The regulation went into effect on May 1, 1795. This flag was the only U.S. flag to have more than 13 stripes. It was immortalized by Francis Scott Key during the bombardment of Fort McHenry, Sept 13, 1814. The flag is now preserved in the Smithsonian Museum. You can notice the “tilt” in some of the stars just as in the original Star-Spangled Banner.

Where the original Star-Spangled Banner went:

1814: The battle occurred, and the flag won its glory. Armistead was promoted to Lt. Colonel by Madison. Armistead died in service on April 25, 1818. He acquired the flag sometime before that date, but at this point it is unknown how.

1818: Armistead died and “legend” says that the flag was used in his funeral. However, in all of the newspaper accounts of Armistead’s funeral, there is no mention of the flag being displayed at it. At his death the flag passed to his widow, Louisa Armistead.

1824: The flag was used in a reception for General Lafayette.

1861: Louisa Armistead died on October 3, 1861, and in her will left the flag to her daughter, Georgiana Armistead Appleton. The flag was sent to England for safe keeping during the Civil War, according to one of the Armistead family members, who made this statement in a newspaper interview in the 1880’s. But Georgiana said, in a letter to Admiral George Preble, that the flag was in her possession during the rebellion.

June 24, 1873: The flag was displayed in the Charleston Naval Yards. Canvas backing was sewn on the flag and one of the first photographs was taken of it.

1876: The flag was loaned to the Navy Department for the Centenial Celebration.

1879: Georgiana Armistead Appleton died in 1879 and left the flag to her son Eben Appleton.

1907: Eben Appleton loaned the flag to the Smithsonian.

1912: Eben Appleton converts the loan of the flag to a gift to the Smithsonian.

1914: Amelia Fowler was commissioned to remove the canvas backing sewn on the flag when it was photographed in 1873 and replace it with a linen backing.”

 Source: usflag.org