Did you know that almost immediately after achieving Territorial status (1838), a clamor arose around Iowa for statehood? After a dismal failure to achieve that goal in 1844, the people of Iowa Territory requested from the Territorial governor that an updated proposed constitution for statehood be written. So, a second Iowa Territorial Convention gathered in Iowa City in May 1846 and approved a State Constitution on May 18, 1846.
The Governor signed it in September and on December 28, 1846, Iowa became the 29th state in the Union as President James K. Polk signed Iowa’s admission bill into law.
After Iowa joined the Union in 1846, the U.S. Flag “officially” added a 29th star on July 4, 1847. Surprisingly, prior to the familiar 48-star flag – which was first used in 1912 – there was no set pattern for arranging stars on Old Glory in 1846.
The two flags shown above are from 1847. On the left is the 29-star flag that hung in the House Chamber in the Capitol Building in Iowa City. Notice how the 29th star that represents Iowa is larger than all the others.
The other 29-star flag – shown above on the right – is yet another version of Old Glory that was used around the country in 1847.
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