Lancaster in Fairfield County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The Fifty Star Flag

A Symbol of America

Photographed by Alex Krempasky, March 19, 2023

1. The Fifty Star Flag Marker

Inscription. The design for the fifty star flag was born here at Lancaster High School in 1958 when student Robert Heft designed it for a history class project. Reasoning that since Alaska was seeking admission as a state and that Hawaii would soon follow, Heft constructed a fifty star flag from an old 48-star flag using blue cloth to replace the field and white adhesive for the stars. When Heft received a B- on his project, his teacher, Stanley Pratt, promised that he would raise the grade if he submitted the flag design to their congressman, Walter Moeller. Moeller in turn passed the flag design on to the chairman of the Congressional Flag Design Committee, who also liked it. President Dwight D. Eisenhower made the design the official American flag in 1960. It is the only flag in American history to have flown over the White House for more than five administrations.

Erected 2003 by Ohio Bicentennial Commission, The Longaberger Company, Bank One-Lancaster Downtown, and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 5-23.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Education • Patriots & Patriotism

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. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #34 Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection, and the Vexillology series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1958.

Location. 39° 43.981′ N, 82° 35.145′ W. Marker is in Lancaster, Ohio, in Fairfield County. It is on Arbor Valley Drive, on the left when traveling north. Marker is located in the courtyard on the back side of Lancaster High School. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1312 Granville Pike, Lancaster OH 43130, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Hocking Hills

and in the Columbus Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: John Bright #2 Covered Bridge (approx. 0.3 miles away); Standing Stone National Bank (approx. 0.6 miles away); Rising Park Centennial Celebration (approx. 0.7 miles away); Camp Anderson (approx. 0.9 miles away); R. Kenneth Kerr (1897 - 1953) and Charlotte Sieber Kerr (1899 - 1974) (approx. 0.9 miles away); C & O Depot at Carroll, Ohio (approx. 0.9 miles away); Civil War Union Soldiers Memorial (approx. one mile away); Liberty Township No. 6 School (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lancaster.

Regarding The Fifty Star Flag. Robert

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., November 15, 2009

2. The Fifty Star Flag Marker

Heft died in Saginaw, Michigan, on Saturday, December 12, 2009.

Also see . . .
1. Robert G. Heft, Designer of the 50-Star US Flag. (Submitted on December 14, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
2. Top Thirteen Facts about Independence Day. Thirteen minute YouTube video. Robert Heft’s design is highlighted.

(Submitted on July 8, 2020.)

The Fifty Star Flag Marker in Rear of Courtyard image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., October 11, 2008

3. The Fifty Star Flag Marker in Rear of Courtyard

Lancaster High School image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., October 11, 2008

4. Lancaster High School

Photographed by Craig Doda, March 13, 2026

5. The Fifty Star Flag Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on March 31, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 14, 2008, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 2,091 times since then and 98 times this year. Last updated on October 4, 2021, by Grant & Mary Ann Fish of Galloway, Ohio. Photos: 1. submitted on May 13, 2023, by Alex Krempasky of Obetz, Ohio. 2. submitted on December 14, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 3, 4. submitted on October 14, 2008, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 5. submitted on March 22, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.