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CLEVELAND, Ohio - Dozens of versions of the Stars and Stripes, and at least one variation without stars before 1777, have flown as the American flag.
With Thursday being the 102nd national Flag Day, we look back at some of the changes over the years with a gallery of flags below.
The same 50-star flag has flown since 1960, soon after Hawaii became the nation's 50th state.
But earlier versions not only had fewer stars - and briefly more stripes - they also included different arrangements of the stars.
President William Howard Taft, a Cincinnati native, by order in 1912 set the proportions for the flag, as well as the positioning of the stars.
As for Flag Day itself, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed June 14 Flag Day in 1916. Before then, some states and local communities celebrated Flag Day.
Scroll below to see the history of flags.
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No stars - 1775 to 1777
According to the Encyclopedia Britannica and other sources, the unofficial national flag was raised at the direction of Gen. George Washington on Jan. 1, 1776.
The flag had 13 horizontal stripes and, in the upper left, resembled the British Union Flag. This flag, or flags with similar designs, flew over forts and naval vessels as the flag of the Continental Army.
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13-stars - 1777 to 1795
The Flag Resolution of June 14, 1777 "resolved that the flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation," according to history published by the Smithsonian.
Thirteen, of course, represented the 13 original states: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina and Rhode Island.
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15 stars - 1795 to 1818
The addition of Vermont in 1791 and Kentucky in 1792 led to the 15-star, 15-stripe flag. But this was the only time the number of stripes expanded because of the addition of states.
A change was made on April 4, 1818, that both reduced the number of stripes and set any change to occur on July 4, following the addition of states.
This set the number of stripes at 13. And there would be no change in the number of stars until the first Independence Day after states were added.
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20 stars - 1818 to 1819
Variations of the 20-star flag were in use for about a year, to include representation for Tennessee, which became a state in 1796, Ohio (1803), Louisiana (1812), Indiana (1816) and Mississippi (1817).
This means Ohio technically was not represented as a star on the flag until 15 years after becoming a state.
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21 stars - 1819 to 1820
After Illinois became a state in 1818, a 21st star was added.
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23 stars - 1820 to 1822
Alabama (1819) and Maine (1820) were next in line in becoming states, leading to creation of the 23-star flag
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24 stars - 1822 to 1836
This flag, created after the addition of Missouri in 1821, lasted for 14 years.
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25 stars - 1836 to 1837
Arkansas became the nation's 25th state in 1836.
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26 stars - 1837 to 1846
Michigan became the 26th state in 1837, leading to 26-star flags.
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27 stars - 1845 to 1846
27 stars followed the addition of Florida in 1845. Texas was also added later that year, but the change in the flag didn't occur for several more months.
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28 stars - 1846 to 1847
Though Texas became a state on Dec. 29, 1845, the next flag wasn't changed to include 28 stars until July 4, 1846.
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29 stars - 1847 to 1848
Iowa was became a state in December, 1846, leading to the 1847 change to include 29 stars on the flag.
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30 stars - 1848 to 1851
The addition of Wisconsin in 1848 led to the 30-star flag.
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31 stars - 1851 to 1858
California was admitted as a state in 1850.
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32 stars - 1858 to 1859
Minnesota became the nation's 32nd state in 1858
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33 stars - 1859 to 1861
The American flag at the start of the Civil War on April 12, 1861, included 33 stars, thanks to the addition of Oregon as the nation's 33rd state in 1859.
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34 stars - 1861 to 1863
The second flag during the Civil War came with a change on July 4, 1861, to add a 34th star to reflect the addition of Kansas as the nation's 34th state on Jan. 29, 1861.
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35 stars - 1863 to 1865
West Virginia officially became a state on June 20, 1863, just over two years after the start of the Civil War. The 35th star to the flag was added on July 4, 1863.
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36 stars - 1865 to 1867
Nevada became the 36th state on Oct. 31, 1864, a few months before the end of the Civil War on May 13, 1865.
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37 stars - 1867 to 1877
Nebaska became the 37th state in 1867.
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38 stars - 1877 to 1890
Colorado became the 38th state in August 1876.
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43 stars - 1890 to 1891
Five stars were added to the flag on July 4, 1890, the biggest change in 71 years - reflecting the addition of North Dakota and South Dakota on Nov. 2, 1889, Montana on Nov. 8, 1889, Washington on Nov. 11, 1889, and Idaho on July 3, 1890.
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44 stars - 1891 to 1896
Wyoming became the 44th state in 1890.
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45 stars - 1896 to 1908
Utah became the 45th state in 1896.
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46 stars - 1908 to 1912
Oklahoma became the 46th state in 1907, leading to the addition of the 46th star on July 4, 1908. This was the last time a star was added in which design options remained open for how to arrange stars on the flag.
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48 stars - 1912 to 1959
A lot people, businesses and government agencies flew the same 48-star flag for years.
This was the first flag created after President William Howard Taft established proportions of the flag and set the arrangement of the stars with an executive order on June 24, 1912.
And after the addition of New Mexico on Jan. 6, 1912, and Arizona on Feb. 14, 1912, no other states were added for 47 years.
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49 stars - 1959 to 1960
A 49-star flag is a rare find. It was the official flag for just one year, from July 4, 1959 to July 3, 1960. The 49th star was added to reflect the Jan. 3, 1959, addition of Alaska.
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50 stars - July 4, 1960 to present
Hawaii became the nation's 50th state on Aug. 21, 1959, when Dwight D. Eisenhower was president.
This means there has not be a change in the number of stars since July 4, 1960.
Could Puerto Rico the the District of Columbia be next?
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