This week we’re replaying some of our favorite episodes about flags and those who fly them.

Woven picture of a seated Betsy Ross sewing the first American flag was made for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition or as it was commonly known, the St. Louis World’s Fair of 1904. Betsy Ross sits with the flag on the front porch of a clapboard house with a spinning wheel and cat. American Textile History Museum Collection via Creative Commons https://www.si.edu/object/picture:chndm_2016-35-75

Betsy Ross May Not Have Made The First Flag, But She Really Did Make Flags

Betsy Ross’s backstory is pretty interesting even if it didn’t go quite how the legends tell it.


Four people view the original Star-Spangled Banner at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. (Photo by National Museum of American History via Flickr/Creative Commons https://flic.kr/p/818rtT)

The Star-Spangled Banner That Inspired “The Star-Spangled Banner”

The story of the American flag that led to the writing of what is now our national anthem. 


A 50 star US flag illuminated by the sun. (Photo by jnn1776 via Flickr/Creative Commons https://flic.kr/p/8HecPP)

Bob Heft Designed The 50-Star U.S. Flag In High School

Heft designed a 50-star US flag for a high school class project as Alaska and Hawaii were on their way to statehood.


Alaska's flag flies off the side of a ship. (Photo by Kim F via Flickr/Creative Commons https://flic.kr/p/7EV3rs)

Benny Benson, The 13 Year Old Who Designed Alaska’s Flag

When the then-territory of Alaska flew its flag for the first time in 1929, it was flying a flag designed by a 13 year old of Aleutian descent.


Close up on American flag (Photo by Jonathan Cutrer via Flickr/Creative Commons https://flic.kr/p/2grnctM)

It’s Not Just A Giant American Flag, It’s Superflag

Superflag was a 505 foot long, 255 foot tall American flag that was once flown over Hoover Dam (because they don’t make flagpoles that large).