August 21, 1959 - Hawaii becomes the 50th state

August 21, 1959 - Hawaii becomes the 50th state

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - On this day, August 21, 1959, Hawaii became the 50th state.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower admitted Hawaii to the Union, ordering the American flag to feature 50 stars arranged in staggered rows - five six star rows and four five star rows.

The new U.S. flag became official on July 4, 1960.

The first known settlers of the Hawaiian Islands were Polynesian voyagers that had arrived sometime in the 8th century.

In 1778, an explorer named James Cook became the first documented European to arrive on the Islands.

In the mid 1830s, the first sugar plantation was established on Kauai, paving the way for the industry to expand throughout the century.

Missionaries and planters showed up to the Islands, bringing massive changes to Hawaiian political, cultural, economic and religious life with them.

In 1840, the Hawaiian monarch was stripped of much of his authority when a constitutional monarchy was put in place.

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