What Is a 13 Star American Flag?
A 13 star American flag is any version of the Stars and Stripes that carries 13 stars and 13 stripes, representing the original thirteen colonies. The 1777 Flag Resolution specified 13 alternating red and white stripes and 13 white stars on a blue field "representing a new constellation", but it did not specify how the stars had to be arranged. That single omission is why the Betsy Ross, Cowpens, Bennington, and Hopkinson designs all exist and all technically comply with the law. If you want to fly the right historic flag for July 4, 2026 and America's 250th anniversary, you first need to tell these four apart.
How Do You Identify Which 13 Star Flag You Have?
Use this four-step visual checklist. It works on a physical flag or a photo, and it resolves every common confusion.
- Step 1, Count the stars. All four flags have 13 total, so the count alone does not distinguish them. Move to step 2.
- Step 2, Check the star layout in the canton. Are all 13 in a single unbroken circle (Betsy Ross)? Are 12 in a circle with a 13th star in the center (Cowpens)? Are 11 stars in a semicircular arch with 2 more in the upper corners (Bennington)? Or are the stars arranged in rows (Hopkinson)?
- Step 3, Check the top stripe color. Is the outermost stripe red? That points to Betsy Ross, Cowpens, or Hopkinson. Is the outermost stripe white? That is the Bennington flag, the only common 13-star flag where white frames the top and bottom edges.
- Step 4, Look for the "76." A large "76" in the canton settles it immediately: that is the Bennington flag. No other major 13-star reproduction carries that numeral in the canton.
Betsy Ross vs. Cowpens vs. Bennington vs. Hopkinson: Full Comparison
| Feature | Betsy Ross | Cowpens (3rd Maryland) | Bennington | Hopkinson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Star count | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
| Star layout | All 13 in a single circle | 12 in a circle + 1 center | 11 in an arch + 2 in upper corners | Rows (likely 3-2-3-2-3 or similar) |
| Star points | 5-pointed | 5-pointed | 7-pointed | 6-pointed (as designed) |
| Outermost stripe | Red | Red | White | Red |
| Canton height | 7 stripes deep | 7 stripes deep | 9 stripes deep | 7 stripes deep |
| "76" in canton? | No | No | Yes | No |
| Original held at | No confirmed original | Maryland State Archives | Bennington Museum, VT | No known original |
| Confirmed date | Pattern dated ~1792 by Smithsonian | Physical flag ~1840s | Physical flag ~1812–1830 | Bill submitted ~1780 |
| Best recognized for | Unity, equality of colonies | Battle of Cowpens, 1781 | Spirit of '76, Revolution | Designer attribution debate |
How Is the Betsy Ross Flag Different From the Cowpens Flag?
These two flags are the most commonly confused 13-star designs, and for good reason. Both show white stars in a circular formation on a blue canton, both have red as the outermost stripe, and both meet the 1777 Flag Resolution. The single distinguishing feature: the Betsy Ross flag places all 13 stars in one unbroken circle with no center star, while the Cowpens (3rd Maryland) flag places 12 stars in a circle with a 13th star in the center.
The Cowpens flag is associated with William Batchelor of the 3rd Maryland Regiment at the Battle of Cowpens on January 17, 1781. The physical flag held by the Maryland State Archives dates to approximately the 1840s, and fabric analysis indicates construction with mid-19th-century materials rather than Revolutionary War-era cloth. Notably, the famous Spirit of '76 painting by Archibald Willard (1876) actually depicts the Cowpens flag, not the Betsy Ross, though the two are constantly swapped in popular memory.
For buyers: if you look at the canton and see one lonely star floating in the middle of the ring, you have the Cowpens design. If every star touches the ring with no center occupant, you have the Betsy Ross. The Nylon Betsy Ross Flag in our collection uses the correct single-ring layout, with all 13 stars equally spaced, no center star.
What Makes the Bennington Flag Different From the Betsy Ross?
The Bennington flag is the easiest of the four to distinguish because it breaks from the standard American flag in three simultaneous ways. Identify any one of them and you have your answer.
- White stripes outermost: The Bennington's stripes run white-red-white, placing white at the top and bottom edges, the opposite of every other standard 13-star design.
- Large "76" in the canton: The numerals sit beneath the star arch as a direct reference to 1776. No other major historic 13-star flag carries text or numerals in the canton.
- Seven-pointed stars in an arch, not a circle: Eleven stars form a semicircular arch, with two additional stars in the upper corners of the canton, for a total of 13. The points on each star number seven rather than the standard five.
- Taller blue canton: The canton spans nine stripes deep instead of the usual seven, giving the flag a noticeably top-heavy blue field.
Historians date the physical Bennington flag to approximately 1812–1830 based on its machine-woven cotton fabric, a material that was scarce in the 1770s but accessible in the early 19th century. The most likely origin: a commemorative banner produced for the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence around 1826, rather than a flag carried in actual battle in 1777. The original is held at the Bennington Museum in Vermont.
What Is the Hopkinson Flag?
The Hopkinson flag is the least reproduced of the four but arguably has the strongest documented claim to the title of "first American flag design." Francis Hopkinson, a New Jersey delegate to the Continental Congress and signer of the Declaration of Independence, billed Congress around 1780 for designing multiple government seals and the flag of the United States. His bill specifically requested payment and listed the Stars and Stripes among his designs, making his the earliest documented design claim, predating the Betsy Ross legend by decades.
Hopkinson's design most likely used six-pointed stars arranged in rows across the canton, though no original survives and no contemporary illustration confirms the exact layout. Congress denied his bill on the grounds that he was not the sole designer. The 1777 Flag Resolution's silence on star arrangement means Hopkinson's rows-of-stars interpretation was entirely lawful, as were the circle and arch patterns of other makers. Where the Betsy Ross legend was first publicized by her grandson William Canby in 1870, roughly a century after 1776, Hopkinson's paper trail dates to his own lifetime.
For most buyers, the Hopkinson design is primarily a historical reference point rather than a widely available retail product. The Historical and Patriotic Flags collection is the best place to explore what's currently in stock across all founding-era designs.
Myth vs. Fact: The Betsy Ross Story
The Betsy Ross legend holds that in 1776, George Washington, Robert Morris, and George Ross visited Ross's Philadelphia upholstery shop and commissioned her to sew the first American flag. The story entered public record in 1870, when her grandson William Canby presented it to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, nearly 100 years after the alleged event, based on family oral tradition.
What is documented: Betsy Ross made flags for the Pennsylvania Navy in 1777, establishing her as a working flag maker of the period. The circle-of-13-stars pattern now called the "Betsy Ross" design was dated by Smithsonian scholar Grace Rogers Cooper to approximately 1792, with its earliest known appearance in a John Trumbull painting from that year, where the stars are six-pointed, not five. Historians classify the Ross story as plausible but unverified. The flag has become the most recognizable of all 13-star designs regardless, and for America's 250th anniversary in 2026, it is the design most buyers specifically seek.
Buying Guide: Material, Stars, and Size for 13-Star Reproductions
Once you have identified the design you want, these three factors determine which product to buy.
Material: Nylon vs. Cotton Tea-Stained vs. Printed
| Material | Best For | Durability | Look |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nylon (outdoor) | Year-round outdoor display, flagpoles | High, UV-resistant, quick-drying | Crisp, vivid colors |
| Cotton tea-stained | Indoor display, heritage/antique look | Moderate, fades in direct sun | Aged, sepia-toned appearance |
| Printed rayon/polyester | Short-term events, stick flags | Low, not for prolonged outdoor use | Economy; colors may bleed in rain |
For a permanent outdoor display for July 4, 2026, nylon is the right choice. The 250th Nylon Betsy Ross Flag is embroidered and Made in USA, the embroidered stars hold their shape and depth far longer than screen-printed versions, particularly through wind cycles on an outdoor pole. If you want to mark the specific 1776-to-2026 milestone, the 1776 To 2026 Nylon Betsy Ross Flag incorporates the anniversary date directly into the design.
Stars: Embroidered vs. Sewn vs. Printed
- Embroidered stars are stitched directly into the fabric. They resist fraying, maintain crisp edges through washing, and are the standard for Made-in-USA FMAA-certified flags.
- Sewn appliqué stars are cut from separate fabric and stitched on. They have excellent dimension but require careful inspection of stitch quality at the edges.
- Printed stars are the most economical option and fine for indoor or short-term display, but the ink can fade or crack with repeated outdoor exposure.
When reading any historic flag listing, look for the FMAA (Flag Manufacturers Association of America) certification mark to confirm that all materials and labor are domestic. Our American Flag Specs Decoded guide walks through every field in a flag product listing so you know exactly what you are ordering.
Size: What to Order
- 2' x 3', Wall mount, porch bracket, or desk display
- 3' x 5', Standard residential flagpole; the most common size for historic reproductions
- 4' x 6', Larger residential or commercial in-ground pole
- 5' x 8' or 6' x 10', Commercial flagpole 25 ft or taller
Which 13-Star Flag Should You Actually Fly for July 4, 2026?
The Betsy Ross is the right choice for most buyers, for three reasons. First, it is the most universally recognized founding-era flag, so neighbors, guests, and passersby immediately understand its historical meaning. Second, the circle of 13 stars is explicitly tied in popular culture to the founding of the republic, the circular arrangement conveys equality among the 13 colonies, with no state given a position of prominence. Third, 2026's America 250th (Semiquincentennial) falls 250 years after 1776, and the Betsy Ross pattern is the dominant visual symbol for that milestone across all official and commercial commemorations.
The Bennington flag is an excellent secondary choice if you want a flag that broadcasts the "1776" reference visually, the "76" in the canton makes it instantly legible as a founding-era flag without any explanation. The Cowpens flag is a strong pick for buyers with a Maryland or military heritage connection who want a design that honors a specific Revolutionary War victory. The Hopkinson flag suits buyers who want to make a historically precise point about the designer attribution debate.
Critical etiquette note: Historic 13-star flags do not replace the current 50-star American flag in order of precedence. When flying both, the 50-star flag takes the position of honor, highest point on a single pole, or the flag's own right (observer's left) on separate poles. For a full breakdown of how to order multiple flags correctly, see our guide on flying multiple flags in the right order of precedence.
To mount your chosen historic flag properly at home, the Premium American Flag Display Set includes pole, wall mount, and aluminum rings sized for a standard 3' x 5' flag. For a freestanding in-ground setup, the 5-Section 6 FT Stainless Steel Flagpole Kit handles residential display without permanent concrete installation. For topper selection on your pole, the Flagpole Topper Guide covers the sizing and meaning differences between eagle, ball, and spear finials.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Calling the Cowpens flag a Betsy Ross. The Cowpens has a center star. If a listing or image shows a star inside the ring, it is not a Betsy Ross design.
- Assuming the "Spirit of '76" painting shows a Betsy Ross flag. Willard's famous painting features the Cowpens/3rd Maryland design, not the full circle.
- Buying a printed-star flag for permanent outdoor display. Printed stars fade and crack within a single season of UV and wind exposure. Order embroidered stars for any flag that will fly regularly.
- Flying a historic flag in place of, not alongside, the 50-star flag. The U.S. Flag Code applies to all versions of the American flag. For civic and residential display, the current 50-star flag should be present and flown in the position of honor.
- Ignoring the stripe order when buying online. A quick check of whether the top stripe is red or white will immediately confirm whether you are receiving a Betsy Ross/Cowpens-style flag or a Bennington-style flag.
- Ordering without checking Made-in-USA certification. Imported 13-star flag reproductions vary wildly in color accuracy and construction quality. Look for FMAA-certified products for a faithful, durable reproduction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the Betsy Ross flag and the Cowpens flag?
Both flags have 13 five-pointed white stars on a blue canton and red as the outermost stripe. The only visual difference is the star layout: the Betsy Ross flag places all 13 stars in a single unbroken circle with no center star, while the Cowpens (3rd Maryland) flag places 12 stars in a circle with a 13th star in the center. The Cowpens design is often confused with the Betsy Ross because the two look nearly identical at a glance.
Why does the Bennington flag have white stripes on the outside?
The 1777 Flag Resolution did not specify which color stripe should appear at the top or bottom. The Bennington flag's maker, most likely producing a commemorative banner in the early 19th century, arranged the 13 stripes with white outermost, which is the opposite of the convention that became standard. The seven-pointed stars, taller blue canton, and "76" numeral are the other three features that make the Bennington immediately distinctive.
Did Betsy Ross really make the first American flag?
Betsy Ross is documented as a flag maker for the Pennsylvania Navy in 1777, establishing that she made flags during the founding era. The story of her being commissioned by George Washington to design the first Stars and Stripes first appeared publicly in 1870, when her grandson William Canby presented it to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, roughly a century after the alleged event. Historians consider the story plausible but unverified. Francis Hopkinson has the strongest paper trail for flag design, having billed Congress directly around 1780.
Which historic 13-star flag is correct for America's 250th in 2026?
The Betsy Ross design is the most appropriate and widely recognized choice for July 4, 2026, America's 250th anniversary. It is the pattern most associated with the founding era in public memory and in official Semiquincentennial commemorations. When displayed, it should accompany (not replace) the current 50-star flag, which retains the position of honor. Products specifically designed for the 250th, such as the 250th Nylon Betsy Ross Flag, incorporate anniversary marking directly into the canton design.
Does the U.S. Flag Code apply to historic 13-star flags?
Yes. The U.S. Flag Code applies to all versions of the American flag, including historic reproductions. Historic 13-star flags follow the same display, care, and retirement rules as the current 50-star flag. They may be flown below or alongside the 50-star flag but never in its place of honor. When a flag becomes worn or faded, it should be retired respectfully, the same standards apply regardless of the flag's design or age.