In 1777, the U.S. Continental Congress made an important design decision: “Resolved, that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.” It’s a color scheme we still honor today.
To fly a star-spangled banner on the Fourth of July (or any other day), you’ll need a flagpole. We’ve rounded up 10 poles to consider, in two styles: wall-mounted (to fly a flag against the facade of a house) and in-ground (a freestanding flagpole you can site anywhere in the garden).
N.B.: For in-ground installation, a flagpole should be anchored in a ground sleeve (typically made of a length of PVC pipe), surrounded by cement and dry sand. Depth may vary depending on the height of a flagpole; a 20-foot flagpole, for instance, should be in a 2-foot-deep hole. A metal collar, set at ground level, encircles the pole. For more information about installation, see Gettysburg Flag Works.
In-Ground Flagpoles
Above: A 20-foot White Fiberglass Flagpole scaled for residential gardens has a maintenance-free surface even under trying weather conditions (it is designed to withstand 100-mph winds). The flagpole comes with a 4-by-6-foot American flag; the set is $359.99 from Home Depot.
Above: A 20-foot silver Aluminum Retractable Flagpole comes with a decorative gold ball finial, a pulley and rope, a cleat, and a flag; $62.89 from Overstock.
Above: A 17-foot Liberty Flagpole Kit made of rust-free tubing can fly two flags at once and comes with a nylon US flag measuring 3 by 5 feet; $154.99 from Amazon.
Above: Manufactured in the US, heavy duty Estate External Halyard Satin Aluminum Flagpoles “are gracefully tapered with scaled down proportions perfect for home, apartment or small businesses,” notes retailer Flags International. The poles are made of “seamless 6060-T6 aluminum with tensile strength not less than 30,000 psi and a yield point of 25,000 psi” and come in a variety of heights from 15 to 35 feet and diameters of from 3 to 5 inches; $522 to $1,649.
Above: A 20-foot tapered aluminum Residential Flagpole comes with “all accessories and fittings needed: a cast aluminum truck with pulley, 3 inch diameter gold ball ornament, braided polypropylene halyard, cast nylon rope cleat with screws, and a heavy duty ground sleeve.” It is $119 from Amazon.
Wall Mount Flagpoles
Above: Made in the US by Annin Flagmakers, a six-foot-long, wall-mounted aluminum Spinning Flagpole comes with a 3-by-5-foot flag and fasteners; $55.79 from Home Depot.
Above: A 6-foot Deluxe Wall Mount with a flagpole made of 10-gauge anodized aluminum (with a 15-year warranty) is $175 from Flagpoles Etc.
Above: An All-American Flag Set comes with a two-piece, 6-foot pole, mounting rings, a positino bracket, and a 3-by-5-foot nylon flag. It is $49.50 from Flags International.
Above: A USA Heritage Series Flag Kit includes a 5-foot, two-piece mahogany stained wood flagpole, a pole sleeve, a fixed brass bracket, a carved pine cone wood finial, and 2.5-by-4-foot cotton American flag; $57.79 from Valley Forge.
Above: An Aluminum Rotating Flagpole has “an internal ball bearing to rotate with the flag and wind to ensure your flag never wraps around the pole,” notes the retailer. It is available in three finishes and two lengths (from 5 to 6 feet) for from $21 to $24.50 from Flagman.
