The Flags of Main Street, U.S.A.

As Walt created Town Square and Main Street, U.S.A., he knew that even the smallest of details would not only enhance the story, but also help to make the magic real. One of the details he included can be found in the flags flying atop each of the buildings lining Main Street, U.S.A. It’s difficult to notice, since they are usually waving in the breeze or draped closed when the wind is still, but each flag has 13 stripes, which is standard for an American flag, but only 45 stars instead of 50. Why? It's not because Disney doesn't want to be bothered with lowering the flags every night, as you'll often read, but instead it's because Main Street, U.S.A. is set at a time that represents the turn of the 20th century, from a period of about 1890 to 1910. For much of this time, America had only 45 states, not today’s total of 50, and as a result the flags you see above Main Street, U.S.A. display the proper and period-specific number of 45 stars arranged in the very same pattern as American flags flown in our country from July 4th, 1896 to July 3rd, 1908.

Keep an eye out, because you’ll see this same attention to detail in flags found elsewhere in the Magic Kingdom, including Frontierland and Liberty Square.