A piece of history

A piece of Waseca County history that spent decades out of the public eye is now the centerpiece of the Waseca County Historical Society’s newest presentation, “48 Stars: Then and Now.” This exhibit pairs historic black-and-white photographs of the 36-foot by 19-foot 48-star flag recently discovered in storage at the Waseca County Fairgrounds with recently taken color photographs taken in 2026. The museum display also includes dresses and military uniforms from the 1940s, adding context to the period in which the flag was used.

 

Open through Sept. 30, the display is an extension of the Society’s popular pop-up exhibit featured at the Waseca County Free Fair in July. It tells the story of an oversized 48-star American flag dating from the 1940s and offers visitors a glimpse into the community and the nation during that era. The flag was discovered in June 2025 at Hodgson Hall on the Waseca County Fairgrounds. Features regarding the flag appeared first in the Waseca County Pioneer, followed by the Mankato Free Press, then KEYC prepared a news segment that ran locally; finally the flag was featured by CNN. Its discovery brought to light a remarkable piece of local history, including photographs showing the flag being carried in Waseca area parades during the 1940s.

 

The 48-star flag was the official flag of the United States from 1912 until 1959, when Alaska and Hawaii joined the Union, updating the needed number of stars to 50. Today, any surviving 48-star flags provide a tangible connection to an important period in American history.

 

A special event related to the exhibit will occur Saturday, Sept. 19, when the flag will return to public display as part of the 39th Annual Waseca Marching Classic parade. This will be the first time the flag has been on public display in more than 60 years.

 

The Historical Society is excited to share this important artifact with the community once again. Following the parade, the flag will be carefully placed in the Society’s climate-controlled museum archives for future generations.

 

“48 Stars: Then and Now” is open through Sept. 30 at the Waseca County Historical Society. Admission is always free. The museum is open Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 

For more information, call the Waseca County Historical Society at 507-835-7700.