Hawaii became the 50th U.S. state, prompting the 50-star flag.
Hawaii was admitted to the Union on August 21, 1959. President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued an executive order specifying a new flag with 50 stars, one for each state. The design became official on July 4, 1960, after Alaska and Hawaii had joined the Union.
The 50-star arrangement was created by 17-year-old Robert G. Heft for a school project in 1958. His design initially represented a proposed future state count, but it was selected after Hawaii statehood made 50 stars appropriate. The stars are arranged in nine offset rows of five and six stars.
The flag's 13 stripes continue to represent the original 13 colonies. The star count has changed repeatedly as new states joined: the previous 49-star flag lasted only one year, from 1959 to 1960. The 50-star flag has remained in use since July 4, 1960, making it the longest-used U.S. national flag design.