Centennial Flag-1876
Little more than a decade after the Civil War, America celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The nation was still in turmoil. Riots shock major cities, congress was stalemated, and scandal pledged the White House. Many, including President Grant, hoped a great celebration would bring the divided country together.
Observances were held across the country. In Philadelphia, the Centennial Exhibition was the first World’s Fair held in America. Once again, Americans flew Flags from their homes to show patriotism. In parts of the south, American Flags were displayed for the first time in 16 years.
Reproductions of historic Flags became trendy. The Betsy Ross Flag and the Betsy Ross story were popular. An enterprising flag maker created a Flag with stars arranged in “1776 1876” in the upper corner. A few still exist. In 2000, the Postal Service honored the Centennial Flag with a 33-cent postage stamp.
Source include:
Centennial Flag (1876) Parade Flag. Jeff R. Bridgman Antiques, Inc (38j-1135) http://jeffbridgman.com/inventory/antique-american-flag-10-pointed-1776-o4621.html
Druckman, Nancy. “American Flags, Designs for a Young Nation” p. 69 (2003) Harry N. Abrams Incorporated, New York
Furlong, William and McCandless, Byron. “So Proudly We Hail, The History of the United States Flag” pp. 206-207, (1981) Smithsonian Institution Press
Library of Congress “Philadelphia's World Fair: Topics in Chronicling America” Research Guilds https://guides.loc.gov/chronicling-america-worlds-fair-philadelphia/introduction
Grant, Ulysses “Proclamation 229—Recommending Religious Services on July 4, 1876” (1876)
National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)), 06 July 1876. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86053573/1876-07-06/ed-1/seq-1/
United States Postal Service “33c Stars and Stripes Pane of Twenty” (2000) National Postal Museum https://postalmuseum.si.edu/object/npm_2000.2013.290.1-20