The Michigan Capitol Battle Flag Collection

90,000 Michigan soldiers fought in the American Civil War - 15,000 of them making the ultimate sacrifice. The flags they carried became a symbol of their fight to preserve the Union and end the institution of slavery in America.

Built in the 1870s, the Michigan Capitol was designed to provide a safe home for these flags, and would later become the home of flags carried in the Spanish-American War and World War I.

In 1990, a non-profit program called Save the Flags was established to support the preservation of the flags, research the flags and the soldiers who carried them, and share this incredible collection with the public.

Today, Capitol staff administer to the flag collection. The flags are securely housed in climate-controlled archival storage at the Michigan History Museum. Within the Capitol’s new visitor center, Heritage Hall, trained conservationists care for the flags in a dedicated conservation lab in an attempt to preserve the collection for another 160 years.

Interested in seeing the flags and learning about their care? Give us a call to schedule a personal tour of the flag storage room, located within the Michigan History Museum, and the Capitol’s conservation lab!

(517) 373-5157

After a year of restoration work in the Capitol rotunda, on August 17th our replica Civil War battle flags were returned to their display cases in a grand ceremony, carried by descendents of Michigan Civil War soldiers.

Click to View photos of all 240 flags in the collection, learn more about how flags were used in the battles, and read the histories of individual regiments.

View photos of all 240 flags in the collection, learn more about how flags were used in the battles, and read the histories of individual regiments.

Click to See our ongoing efforts in preservation and research and learn how you can adopt a flag and help us protect these precious artifacts!

See our ongoing efforts in preservation and research and learn how you can adopt a flag and help us protect these precious artifacts!

Click to Learn more about the methods we use to conserve these delicate flags and ensure they survive for future generations!

Learn more about the methods we use to conserve these delicate flags and ensure they survive for future generations!