North Carolina’s 1st Historical Flag

More than a Year before The Declaration of Independence

The date, May 20, 1775, reflects the date that the citizens of Mecklenburg declared independence from Britain more than a year before the Continental Congress in Philadelphia declared independence from Britain. There are British documents that mention this declaration and many eyewitnesses also mention it in their writings.

After being driven out by fierce opposition of Charlotte’s & Mecklenburg’s citizens to British occupation in 1780 during the American Revolutionary War British General Cornwallis wrote that “Charlotte Town was a hornet’s nest of rebellion.”

Note: A 3-foot by 5-foot reproduction of the Hornet’s Nest Flag is available from the House of Flags Museum, Inc. *** link to merchandise We had these high-quality flags produced by Annin & Company with our design on their dense 200 denier Nyl-Glo, DuPont Solar-Max nylon flag material, using the Anco Dye sublimation process.