Storeroom Stories: 42 Star American Flag

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November 1889 – July 4, 1890.

In keeping with its long-held tradition, the federal government formally added new stars to the flag only on its July 4 Independence Day. However, when the United States officially admitted Washington, Montana, and both Dakotas into the Union in November 1889, bringing the total number of states to forty-two, textile manufacturers at this time were already factory-producing national flags for consumer use. Hesitant or unwilling to wait eight whole months before recognizing the country’s four newest states, some makers began producing “unofficial” forty-two star flags like this one.

Although a forty-two star flag would have indeed been appropriate beginning on November 11, 1889, Idaho entered into the Union on July 3, 1890. This event, therefore, made forty-two star flags obsolete and, having not passed July 4, 1890, was never adopted as an official banner of the United States.

This flag flew at Porter Military Academy in Charleston, likely for only a few months in 1889 and 1890.