America 250: The Flag Design & Jersey’s Involvement

Mr. Local History finds itself back partnering with a New Jersey iconic business that has been one of the most historic in American History. As we expanded our Gift Shop collection with America 250 flags, it’s no surprise that it’s all being done by the Annin Flag Company, who’s family got their American story started right here the small hamlet of Liberty Corner, New Jersey aka Bernards Township (our hometown).

The United States Semi- Quin- Centennial Commission aka America 250

The United States Semiquincentennial Commission was created by Congress in 2016 to oversee the nation’s 250th birthday in 2026. Congress set it up as a bipartisan federal group and gave it a big job: help plan the celebration, keep things coordinated nationwide, and protect the official America 250 name and branding so the anniversary wouldn’t turn into a free for all.

Early on, the Commission knew it needed one clear, national look everyone could rally around. Instead of hiring a single artist and putting a name on it, they treated the logo like a piece of national infrastructure. Professional designers developed concepts, the Commission reviewed them, and the goal was something neutral, timeless, and usable everywhere, from classrooms and town halls to flags and official merchandise. That’s why there isn’t “one artist” behind the logo. It belongs to the country, not an individual.

Choosing the final logo was about practicality as much as design. The Commission looked at how well each option worked at every size, how easily it could be reproduced, and whether it could be legally protected as a federal trademark. Once they picked the final design, they locked down strict rules on how it can be used, including colors, placement, and wording, so America 250 would look consistent from coast to coast.

That same standards based approach is why Annin was approved. Annin Flagmakers has been making flags since 1847 and is now based in New Providence, New Jersey. They already had the trust, the U.S. manufacturing, and the quality controls the Commission was looking for. Annin followed the rules, submitted compliant designs, and agreed to ongoing oversight, earning the right to produce official America 250 flags with the protected logo.

Why This America 250 Logo

The America 250 logo was selected because it worked best as a national symbol, not because it was the most artistic or trendy design.

The United States Semiquincentennial Commission needed a mark that could represent the entire country for several years and across thousands of uses. The chosen logo is simple, balanced, and instantly readable at any size, whether it is on a large flag, a small lapel pin, a website, or a classroom handout. Simplicity mattered because complicated or highly stylized designs tend to break down when reproduced at scale.

It was also selected for neutrality. The logo avoids political imagery, regional symbols, or references to any single moment or person. That makes it equally appropriate for federal agencies, states, tribes, schools, nonprofits, and community groups. No one region or ideology can claim it as their own.

Practical considerations played a major role as well. The design could be clearly trademarked and protected under federal law, which allows the Commission to control its use and prevent misuse or dilution. It reproduces cleanly in one color or full color, works on fabric, print, and digital media, and can be applied consistently by licensed partners. In short, this logo was chosen because it could last, scale, and unite. It does its job quietly, which is exactly what a national commemorative identity is supposed to do.

Once Again – New Jersey’s Annin Flagmaker Leads the Pack

Known as one of the largest flagmakers in the world, the Annin Flag Company has been designing and stitching a wide range of flags since its founding in the 1820s. Then they moved from NYC to Jersey in 1919, and the flag manufacturing business grew, making flags for the rest of the world. In New Jersey, where American flag making history began, the story comes full circle. Annin Flagmakers, now proudly based in New Providence, New Jersey, has been officially approved as a licensed America 250 flagmakers, authorized to produce sequential America 250 commemorative flags bearing the official America 250 logo under the direction of the United States Semiquincentennial Commission. Today, Annin remains the only clearly identifiable, confirmed flag producer associated with the Commission.

Founded in 1847, Annin Flagmakers is the oldest and largest flag manufacturer in the United States, and its designation as an official America 250 flag producer reinforces New Jersey’s central role in our nation’s founding and its 250th anniversary. Mr Local History is proud to help tell this story and support programs that connect our communities to this once in a generation national celebration.

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Mr. Local History Giftshop
Support Mr. Local History & the Annin Flag Makers with one of their Iconic Flags

Whenever you purchase an item from the Mr. Local History Project, you are supporting local history. All proceeds from our gift shop go towards preserving and promoting Jersey’s local history “with a social twist.” We appreciate so much, your support.

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Where Have Annin Flags Been? EVERYWHERE

In company history, 1766 is most significant not for William Annin’s stone house being built just off Lyons Road in the Liberty Corner section of Bernards Township, New Jersey, but for the birth of Alexander Annin, the youngest son of William and the father of the Alexander Annin who started the Annin Flag Company. Since their inception, Annin American flags have been THE dominant force behind flag-making. Here are a few examples of their dominance:

• Every Presidential funeral since Abraham Lincoln
• Every Presidential inauguration since Lincoln
• Iwo Jima flag raising
• First American flag at the North Pole
• First American flag at the South Pole
• First American flag to top Mount Everest
• First American flag on the Moon
• Produced ALL the flags for the UN since inception
• World Trade Center on 9-11

No other flag company has been shown prominently than the Annin Flag Company, which makes American flags. In fact, in American history, if you saw an American flag, chances are it was an Annin flag. And it’s not just Old Glory that makes Annin proud; they’ve commissioned many other flags throughout American history. Take a look.

Mr. Local History’s Flag Related History

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