Since 1777, the current U.S. flag is the 27th official design. The count treats each officially authorized star configuration as a separate design, beginning with the original 13-star flag adopted during the American Revolution.
Congress added stars as new states joined the Union, while retaining the 13 stripes for the original colonies. The flag changed to 15 stars in 1795, later gained successive star additions, and reached 48 stars in 1912. Alaska produced a short-lived 49-star version in 1959; Hawaii’s admission led to the current 50-star design, adopted on July 4, 1960.
A common mix-up concerns Betsy Ross: popular tradition credits her with sewing the first flag, but the historical evidence does not establish that story. The 50-star design is also sometimes attributed to Robert G. Heft, whose school project resembled the final flag, although the official design was established by presidential order and government heraldic work.
The current flag therefore represents the 26th official modification of the 1777 design and is the longest-used U.S. flag version.