The 49-star flag marked Alaska’s admission and was official for one year. Its blue union arranged 49 stars in seven slightly staggered rows of seven.
Specification
The design retained the established thirteen stripes and overall government proportions. Its distinguishing feature was a seven-by-seven field whose rows were staggered to avoid a rigid square appearance.
A one-year flag
President Dwight D. Eisenhower selected the design and issued Executive Order 10798 on 3 January 1959. It became official on the Fourth of July following Alaska’s admission. Hawaii joined the Union later that year, so the 50-star replacement took effect on 4 July 1960.
Record boundaries
This record covers the official star-count period, not every surviving manufactured example. Government and civilian flags can vary in stitching, exact color, and physical size.
Source trail
National Archives: 49-star design and Executive Order history ↗
National Archives: Executive Order 10834 and transition date ↗