The current design of the U.S. flag was created by a high school student named Robert G. Heft in 1958. He designed it for a class project, and his design was chosen as the official flag design by Congress in 1960.
The flag consists of 13 horizontal stripes of red and white, symbolizing the original 13 colonies, and a blue rectangle in the upper left corner (canton) with 50 white stars, representing the 50 states in the Union.
Betsy Ross is often credited with creating the first American flag with its distinctive stars and stripes. However, historical evidence supporting this claim is not conclusive, and it remains a debated topic among historians.
The design of the flag is closely tied to the Great Seal of the United States. The stars and stripes on the flag are derived from the Great Seal's design.
The stars on the flag have been arranged in various patterns over the years. The most common arrangement is a staggered grid, but during some periods, stars were arranged in circles or other configurations.
There is a specific and symbolic way to fold the American flag. The 13 folds represent the original 13 colonies, and the resulting triangular shape is meant to evoke the shape of a colonial hat.
The official colors of the U.S. flag are "Old Glory Red," "Old Glory Blue," and white. These colors are specifically defined by the Pantone Color Institute.
Flag Day is celebrated on June 14th each year to commemorate the adoption of the U.S. flag in 1777. On this day, many Americans display the flag at their homes and businesses.
Six American flags were planted on the moon during the Apollo missions. While the flags are likely still standing, the harsh lunar environment has likely bleached them white.