1. American Symbols

2. Our Flag The Continental Congress passed the first Flag Act on June 14, 1777 to establish an official flag for our new nation. The original flag had thirteen stripes of red and white and 13 white stars in a blue rectangle to represent the 13 colonies, a new constellation. The flag was changed many times between 1777 and 1960 to include each of the new states added. The flag we see today has 7 red stripes and 6 white stripes to represent the 13 original colonies, and 50 white stars to represent each of the states on a blue background to represent justice.

3. The Bald Eagle Congress adopted the national seal with the bald eagle on it in 1782. The bald eagle was selected because of its strength, long life, noble appearance, freedom, and because it is native to North America. In 1787, they officially made the bald eagle the national emblem. The bald eagle can be found on our money, stamps, the national seal, and many other places. I see feathers on its head, so why do we call it bald? The name comes from another meaning of the word bald, which means it has patches of white.

4. The Statue of Liberty Designed by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi as a gift to the United States to celebrate democracy. The statue was completed in Paris, France and presented to the American Ambassador on our nation’s birthday, July 4, 1884. After the Ambassador received it, it had to be taken apart to ship to the United States in 350 pieces, which were packed into 214 wooden crates! Once the statue arrived in New York City, the United States didn’t have a pedestal to place her on, so Joseph Pulitzer started a large fund raising effort. Others joined in and soon America had the money it needed to build her pedestal. The Statue of Liberty was unveiled and dedicated on her pedestal on October 28, 1886. There are 354 steps to climb if you plan to reach the crown! Would you like to see the view from the top?

6. The Liberty Bell The original Liberty Bell was ordered from England by Pennsylvania for their State House. It arrived in 1752 and cracked the first time that it was rung. John Pass and John Stow of Philadelphia remade the bell twice to make it acceptable. The bell rang on July 8, 1776 at the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence. The bell was used many times until it cracked. They tried to fix it, but it cracked again in 1846 when it was rung in honor of George Washington’s birthday. This was the last time the bell was used. The Liberty Bell weighs 2,080 lbs! The Liberty Bell received its name because of the words on it “Proclaim LIBERTY throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.”

7. Mount Rushmore Designed by sculptor Gutzon Borglum at the request of South Dakota to increase tourism. Borglum chose four presidents to carve into the side of the granite Black Hills: George Washington Thomas Jefferson Theodore Roosevelt Abraham Lincoln Sculpting began on October 4, 1927. 14 years later, on October 31, 1941 the carving was finished. The monument was not officially dedicated until 1991 by President George H.W. Bush. Oh my, my; each head is 60 feet high!

8. There are so many more wonderful American symbols, why stop here? If you would like to receive extra credit, you may research an American symbol and write about it. Your paper will need to include at least 3 important facts about the symbol and a drawing or picture of it. What a wonderful opportunity to learn more and earn credit!