Medium: Printed cotton, metal buttons

Date: c.1889

Country: USA

Credit: Gift of Stephen de Pietri

Flag costumes were commonly worn to parades and pageants during the nineteenth century and were intended to promote national identity and patriotism. The flags on this costume contain 39 stars, most likely in anticipation of the Dakota Territory attaining statehood, but the territory was split into two states. Thus, this fabric lost its original purpose—yet remains a unique, stylized design.

Object Number: 88.125.1