Waseca County Historical Society prepares to sell massive mystery flag, origins still unknown

WASECA, Minn. (KEYC) - The Waseca County Historical Society says the mystery surrounding an old, massive U.S. Battalion Flag discovered at the Waseca County fairgrounds may remain a mystery for now.

After more than a year of searching for where it came from, the society says it will have to sell the piece due to storage concerns.

The flag has hand sewn and machine sewn stripes, is more than 600 square feet, and is 32 feet by 19 feet, with a 48-star design that was only used between 1912 and 1959.

Amy Danielson, the executive director of the museum, says due to its size, there is no place to safely store it fully unfurled, and due to its age, it’s too fragile to keep in storage at the historical society.

After asking local veterans, government employees and community members who might have been around when the flag was being used, Danielson says her best guess as to its origins is it may have been purchased for a community event or used outside a larger structure that is not around anymore.

“Ideas or leads would be great, either way we’re getting rid of it because we just don’t have a way to safely store it,” Danielson said.

Those who have any leads about the flags origins or who want to purchase it can contact the museum at 507-835-7700 or execdirector@wasecacountyhistorycenter.org.

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