Rare 13-star flags going on display at Revolution museum

Dozens of rare 13-star American flags never before exhibited will be on display at the Museum of the American Revolution.

In this Wednesday, June 12, 2019 photo, workmen hang a Federal Era flag as part of the new exhibit 'A New Constellation: A Collection of Historic 13-Star Flags,' at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia. (Matt Rourke/AP Photo)

In this Wednesday, June 12, 2019 photo, workmen hang a Federal Era flag as part of the new exhibit 'A New Constellation: A Collection of Historic 13-Star Flags,' at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia. (Matt Rourke/AP Photo)

Dozens of rare 13-star American flags never before exhibited will be on display at the Museum of the American Revolution.

Antique flag dealer and expert Jeff Bridgman has loaned the historic flags to the Philadelphia museum for display starting Friday, which is Flag Day.

The flags feature 32 arrangements of 13 stars representing the 13 original Colonies. There was no official pattern for the stars until 1912. Flag makers had previously arranged the stars however they wanted.

In this Wednesday, June 12, 2019 photo, Jeff Bridgman displays a flag with an advertisement from the new exhibit ‘A New Constellation: A Collection of Historic 13-Star Flags,’ at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia. (Matt Rourke/AP Photo)

A highlight of the display is a nearly 6-foot (1.8-meter) flag that features 13 stars that roughly form the letters “U” and “S.”

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Three flags from flag maker Sarah McFadden, known as the “Betsy Ross of New York,” will be on display.

“A New Constellation: A Collection of Historic 13-Star Flags” runs through July 14.

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