Felt Flags

Souvenir felt pennants first appeared in the early 1900s, evolving from classic collegiate sports flags into travel keepsakes. Early examples were often made from felted wool in contrasting shades or matching school colors, with cut-out letters and graphics hand-stitched to the triangular flag shape. As American tourism grew through the mid-20th century—helped by expanding highways, cross-country road trips, national park travel, and roadside attractions—these pennants became a popular way to commemorate destinations, universities, landmarks, and special events.

While early pennants leaned into handmade construction and simple appliqué, mid-century examples introduced more ornate graphics: applied lettering, pictorial imagery, and colorful ink prints that sat slightly raised from the felted surface. We ship our vintage pennants flat to help preserve the original inks and prevent crazing or cracking from age. By the late 1970s and onward, the materials began to shift toward more synthetic fibers and mass-produced printing methods, offering an interesting contrast to the earlier wool pieces.

Today, souvenir pennants are collected for their nostalgic graphics, vintage typography, and handmade charm—a snapshot of evolving design, travel, and Americana from the early 1900s through the 1960s and beyond.