Smithsonian Institution Sewn Flag
Smithsonian Institution Sewn Flag, view 2

Smithsonian Institution – Sewn Flag

SKU: Smithsonian Institution Flag - Sewn

Choose your options Call-in item. Review what you need, then call or request a quote.
Sides
Construction (sewn flags)
Size
Your selection: Review your options above
Call 703-751-2411 or use the Request a Quote button below. Your selection goes with it.

Smithsonian Institution - Sewn Flag

  • Official Smithsonian Institution - Sewn design on nylon, made in the USA
  • Printed or sewn; single-sided, double-sided or mirror-sided
  • Canvas header and brass grommets, plain
  • 3x4 FT, 3x5 FT, 4x6 FT, 52x66 IN

Product Description

The Smithsonian Institution - Sewn Flag is the outdoor version of the Smithsonian Institution - Sewn flag. It carries the Smithsonian Institution - Sewn’s official design on nylon, it is made in the USA, and it is finished with a canvas header and brass grommets along the hoist edge, ready to clip to the halyard of an outdoor flagpole.

This is a call-in item, so you choose the details with us. Order the Smithsonian Institution - Sewn grommets flag printed or sewn, single-sided, double-sided or mirror-sided, in 3x4 FT, 3x5 FT, 4x6 FT, 52x66 IN. Grommet flags are made plain, without fringe, and every sewn grommet flag is lock stitched for the wind. Review your options above, then call 703-751-2411 or request a quote and we will confirm the details before production.

The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum, education and research complex. It operates museums and galleries on the National Mall and in New York, the National Zoo, and research centers from Maryland to Panama. It was founded by an act of Congress in 1846 as a trust instrumentality of the United States.

Choose Your Options

Every Smithsonian Institution - Sewn Flag is made to order, so tell us how you want it built. These are the choices.

Header illustration for the Smithsonian Institution - Sewn Flag: the canvas strip along the hoist edge that holds the grommets
Header: the canvas strip along the hoist edge
Close-up illustration of two brass grommets set into a flag header
Grommets: brass rings set into the header
Single-sided flag illustration, front above back: the design is on the front only and the back is blank
Single-sided: design on the front, blank back
Double-sided flag illustration, front above back: two flags sewn back to back so the design reads correctly on both sides
Double-sided: reads correctly on both sides
Mirror-sided flag illustration, front above back: two layers sewn together, with the back a mirror image of the front
Mirror-sided: the back is a mirror image of the front
  • Printed or sewn: Printed flags are dye-printed on 200 denier nylon, so fine seal detail reproduces exactly. Sewn flags are appliquéd and embroidered by hand in our Alexandria, Virginia shop: each color is a separate piece of fabric stitched to the field, with lettering and fine detail embroidered.
  • Single-sided, double-sided or mirror-sided: A single-sided flag carries the design on the front only; the back is blank. A double-sided flag is two flags sewn back to back, so the design reads correctly on both sides. A mirror-sided flag is also two layers, but the back is a mirror image of the front.
  • Plain finish: Grommet flags are made plain, with hemmed edges and no fringe. Fringe is an indoor finish, and it does not belong on a flag that flies in weather.
  • Lock stitch construction (sewn flags): Every sewn grommet flag is lock stitched, the stronger interlocking stitch, because an outdoor flag takes more wind than an indoor one. There is no regular grade for grommet flags.
  • Size: 3x4 FT, 3x5 FT, 4x6 FT, 52x66 IN are standard. For a custom size, give us the finished width and height you need.

Product Features

  • Official Smithsonian Institution - Sewn design: the Smithsonian Institution - Sewn Flag carries the Smithsonian Institution - Sewn’s official emblem, reproduced to the agency’s design in the finish and size you order.
  • Nylon field: lightweight nylon that flies in a light breeze, sheds water and dries quickly.
  • Header and grommets: a canvas header along the hoist edge with brass grommets, the standard finish for an outdoor flagpole.
  • Built your way: printed or sewn, single-sided, double-sided or mirror-sided, in standard or custom sizes.
  • Made in the USA: every Smithsonian Institution - Sewn flag we sell is made in the USA.
  • Matched sets: order one flag or a set for every office, and the finish and size will be the same on each.

Historical Background

The Smithsonian Institution owes its existence to an Englishman who never visited the United States. James Smithson died in 1829 and left his estate to the nation to found, in his words, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge. Congress accepted the bequest on July 1, 1836, and President James K. Polk signed the act establishing the Institution on August 10, 1846.

The Smithsonian has carried three official seals. The first, authorized in 1847, showed a profile of Smithson himself. In 1893 the Regents adopted a seal designed by sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, with a map of the world, two torches and the phrase For the Increase and Diffusion of Knowledge Among Men. The sunburst, approved on June 3, 1966 for the bicentennial of Smithson's birth, is the emblem seen on Smithsonian buildings and flags today.

Smithsonian Institution Flag: Symbolism at a Glance

  • Sun: Enlightenment to the whole world, and an element of the Smithson family arms.
  • Straight and wavy rays: Light and heat.
  • Torches (1893 seal): Classical emblems of truth and knowledge.

  • Product: Smithsonian Institution - Sewn Flag
  • Material: Nylon
  • Print method: Printed (acid dye on 200 denier nylon) or sewn (appliqué and embroidery)
  • Sides: Single-sided, double-sided or mirror-sided
  • Finish: Canvas header with brass grommets
  • Decoration: Plain (no fringe on grommet flags)
  • Construction (sewn flags): Lock stitch
  • Sizes: 3x4 FT, 3x5 FT, 4x6 FT, 52x66 IN or custom
  • Display: Outdoor flagpole
  • Origin: Made in the USA
  • Ordering: Call 703-751-2411 or request a quote; this item is not sold online
  • Hardware: Flagpoles, halyard and snap hooks are in Hardware and Accessories

  • Smithsonian museums and galleries
  • Research centers and collections facilities
  • The National Zoo
  • Exhibit openings, donor events and staff ceremonies
  • Retirement, promotion and award presentations
  • Fly it beneath the American flag on an outdoor flagpole, or on its own pole beside it

Which options can I choose on the Smithsonian Institution - Sewn Flag?

Printed or sewn; single-sided, double-sided or mirror-sided; and 3x4 FT, 3x5 FT, 4x6 FT, 52x66 IN. Grommet flags are always plain and, when sewn, always lock stitched. Review your options above, then call or request a quote.

What is the difference between single-sided, double-sided and mirror-sided?

A single-sided flag carries the design on the front only, and the back is blank. A double-sided flag is two flags sewn back to back, so the design reads correctly from either side. A mirror-sided flag is two layers with the back a mirror image of the front. Double-sided and mirror-sided flags weigh more and need more wind to fly.

Should I order the Smithsonian Institution - Sewn flag printed or sewn?

Printed reproduces fine seal detail exactly. Sewn appliqué and embroidery gives the emblem relief and texture, and it is the traditional choice for a ceremonial flag. Both are made in the USA. If you are unsure, tell us where the flag will be displayed and we will recommend one.

Why is the grommets flag lock stitched?

An outdoor flag works harder than an indoor one. Wind loads the seams and the appliqué edges every day it flies, so every sewn grommet flag is lock stitched, the stronger interlocking stitch, with no regular grade offered.

Can the grommets flag be displayed indoors?

Yes. Many offices fly the same flag they use outside on an indoor pole with a clip set. For a formal indoor display with fringe, order the Smithsonian Institution - Sewn pole hem flag instead.

How is the Smithsonian Institution - Sewn flag flown with the American flag?

The American flag takes the position of honor. On separate poles of the same height it flies on its own right, which is the viewer’s left. When two flags share one halyard, the American flag is at the peak and the Smithsonian Institution - Sewn flag flies below it.

How do I order the Smithsonian Institution - Sewn Flag?

It is a call-in item. Review your options above, then call 703-751-2411 or send them through our contact page with the quantity you need. We confirm the details before anything goes into production. Agencies that order the Smithsonian Institution - Sewn flag for several locations can ask about a business account, and we keep the Smithsonian Institution - Sewn flag design on file so reorders match the first set. Browse the full government agency flag collection for other departments, or read about our appliqué and embroidery work.

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