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Rare 21-Star U.S. Flag Unveiled at ALPLM

  • Sangamon County News
  • 6 days ago
  • 2 min read

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum began its Independence Day celebration on Thursday by unveiling a rarely seen 21-star U.S. flag, commemorating Illinois’ entry as the 21st state in 1818. The artifact is now on public display for several months.

The flag, notable for its distinctive features, includes a unique star arrangement forming a large single star and white stripes instead of the traditional red at the top and bottom. It has appeared in books, museum exhibitions, and educational videos about the evolution of the American flag.

Frayed from years of age and use, the flag recently underwent significant conservation efforts. Conservators cleaned the delicate fabric, secured it to a linen backing, and added light netting to stabilize the red and blue sections. The entire flag is now housed under conservation-grade Plexiglass to shield it from ultraviolet light.


"This flag may be tattered, but it represents something that hasn’t weakened over the past 207 years – the determination of Illinoisans to help make America a ‘more perfect union,’” said ALPLM Executive Director Christina Shutt. “The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is honored to take on the job of safeguarding this piece of history. Sharing this flag with the world is especially appropriate as we begin the countdown to America’s 250th birthday next year.”


Measuring 7.4 feet wide by 6.4 feet tall, the flag is nearly square. Historians note that its shape may be due to the loss of fabric over time. The star arrangement, known as the “grand luminary” design, became popular around the time Illinois was granted statehood.

The museum acquired the flag from a private collector for $15,625 using privately donated funds earmarked for historical acquisitions. Comparable flags have occasionally sold for higher prices.


Illinois was admitted to the Union on Dec. 3, 1818. The national flag officially incorporated a 21st star on July 4, 1819, and remained in use for only one year before Alabama and Maine’s admissions prompted a new version. At the time, U.S. flags were not mass-produced or widely displayed, contributing to the rarity of 21-star examples today.


"Nothing connects people to the past the way historic artifacts do. This flag invites everyone to picture it flying in 1819 and marvel at the ways America and Illinois have changed since then,” said Ian Hunt, the ALPLM’s head of acquisitions. “Even its stars and stripes give us a chance to reflect on the differences between flags then and now.”


Flag historian James J. Ferrigan III, who has advised the Smithsonian on preservation of the original Star-Spangled Banner, examined the flag and concluded it dates to Illinois’ statehood era. "The star-count, design motifs and construction details all demonstrate that we were still formulating our image of ourselves as a nation and a people,” Ferrigan wrote, calling it a “national treasure.”


The ALPLM's broader mission includes promoting civic engagement through Illinois history and preserving the legacy of Abraham Lincoln. Its collections include approximately 13 million historical items from across the state’s history.

 
 

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