49 to 50

In January of 1959, Alaska was admitted as the 49th state. President Eisenhower introduced the new Flag with 49 stars arranged in seven horizontal rows. Each row featured seven stars with alternating alignment.

Later that year in August, Hawaii became the 50th state. An Ohio high school student, Robert G. Heft, won the competition for the design of the 50 star Flag. It was officially raised for the first time at Fort McHenry Historic Site on July 4, 1960. Only nine years and 16 days later, it was planted on the Moon.

And 32 years later in 2001, it waved over the ruble at Ground Zero in New York as volunteers searched for survivors.