Freedom Flyer — The Interesting History Of One Meaning Behind The Eagle Hung Over The Door On American Homes
Over the Independence Day weekend, I learned a little bit of American history that I had never heard of before. I learned about the Freedom Flyer. Have you heard of this? This is the name given to the metal eagle ornament that you will often see on American homes hanging either above the front door or over the garage door.
These aren’t as popular as they once were, but I have seen plenty of them in my lifetime. Honestly, I never really gave them much thought. I always thought it was just a piece of Americana — a patriotic symbol. After all, our national bird is the bald eagle.
The bald eagle was adopted on the Great Seal of the United States in 1782, after several design attempts beginning right after the Declaration of Independence.
According to the National Archives website, “Just a few hours after the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, the first committee to design a seal for the United States was appointed, and its design began. After undergoing numerous changes, on June 20, 1782, the seal was officially adopted by the Continental Congress.” From there, the eagle became a standard American symbol of independence, strength, national identity, and the Republic. Eagles are on everything from the presidential seal, government buildings, our money, and the list goes on and on. In early American and Federal-style architecture, eagles appeared in pediments, mantels, gates, signs, furniture, and over doorways as patriotic ornament.
So that’s all I ever thought it was — our national bird, and a symbol of patriotism. One of my favorite paintings that my mom ever painted is this bald eagle.
But over the last few days, I’ve seen these metal eagle ornaments that hang over the front door or garage door on many American homes referred to as a “freedom flyer”. I had never heard this name before, so this was new to me. And I saw people speaking of a very specific meaning that this ornament had in the 1940’s and 1950’s, so I did a little digging to find more information.
As it turns out, after World War II, homeownership expanded greatly in America after service members returned from the war and took advantage of the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944 (the G.I. Bill), with over four million home loans being granted under this program. About 20% of all new homes built after the war were purchased by veterans. And as families paid off their mortgages, they would hang an eagle above their door to symbolize that the home belonged to them and they were no longer in debt to the bank. It was a symbol of being mortgage-free. So during the 1940s and 1950s, the eagle had a dual meaning. It was a patriotic symbol — a symbol of our nation. But it was also a symbol of personal freedom — freedom from debt.
As I was reading about this meaning, it dawned on me that I have one of these! A “freedom flyer” hung above my paternal grandparents’ garage doors. And when my grandmother died and my aunts and uncles were trying to clear out her house, they invited all of us grandchildren over to see if we wanted anything. By the time I was able to go over there, all of the “good stuff” had been claimed (which I was perfectly fine with, to be honest), but I did want at least a small thing from their home. And I happened to see the eagle from their garage still there. No one had claimed it, so I took it home.
I didn’t have any plans for it, and in the intervening years, it has been shuffled from room to room, box to box. I thought I might hang it in a corner of my workshop or something like that, but I didn’t really give it much thought beyond that. It was nothing more than a bit of memorabilia from my grandparents’ home that would potentially be packed away in a box for the rest of my life.
But after reading about this unique history, and after all of these years that I’ve held onto this, it made me a little more excited to be the owner of my grandparents’ “freedom flyer”. So I decided to dig it out of storage and dust it off. I didn’t measure it, but I’d guess it’s about 18 inches wide and made of cast iron.
And now I really want to find a place for it on the front of our house. Unfortunately, there’s not enough space for it above our front door since the ceiling of our front porch is so low.
So I’m going to have to improvise a little bit and find another place to display it. I usually don’t like metal decor of any kind on the front of a house. Here in Texas, i.e., The Lone Star State (where we’re very proud of our state 😀 ), you’ll see a lot of metal Lone Star decor on the front of houses. I love Texas, but I’ve never been a fan of the Lone Star decor. That’s just my personal taste. And I’ve never really been a fan of any kind of metal ornaments or decor on a house. Again, it’s just a matter of personal taste.
But in this case, I’m going to make an exception. I’m really excited about finding the perfect spot for my “freedom flyer”, and I think it makes sense on our house. Our house was built in the late 1940s when the “freedom from debt” meaning was surging. And as an added bonus, Matt and I don’t have a mortgage. We paid off our house years ago. Plus, it’s a little bit of memorabilia from my grandparents’ home that I can display on our house. I’m so glad I learned the history of this “freedom flyer” and that it went from a random metal ornament that would make me think, “What am I going to do with this? I don’t want to throw it away, but I have no place for it,” each time I came across it, to now wanting to display it proudly on the front of our house somewhere because of its historical meaning and sentimental value.
Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
It does fit over another entrance – the carport French doors. You walk through that area. It is functionally an entrance for you and Matt.
The size seems perfect for above the garage door on your workshop.
Kristi, your Mom is very talented the Eagle painting is beautiful. Does she sell her work…because she should.
I know you are having a difficult time finding an appropriate place for your heirloom eagle but what about above the garage looking doors on your workshop. Its not your house but it is part of your home. Also not as visible to the public,but still your home, would be above doors under your carport.
Just my thoughts.
Your mother’s eagle painting is beautiful! Thank you for researching freedom eagle and posting what it means. The eagle you have is beautiful and so meaningful to you. Could you hang it over your closet/laundry room window?
What a great post. I never knew about that either, although I know about the eagle significance to us all. Such an amazing and impressive bird…we do get to see them often here in SW Florida. SO nice that you have that, and it has good memories for you beyond the meaning. Looking forward to seeing it displayed where ever you decide. I love it. And your mom’s painting…amazing. Do you own it, or is it at her home? She is so talented!
I absolutely love this. Brought a tear to my eye.
This absolutely belongs on your home. The meaning, the fact that your house is free of debt, & a precious family heirloom. Your getting that piece of iron was meant to be. No doubt you will find the perfect place for it.
It’s great you can carry on the Freedom Fighter!
The eagle painting by your Mom is amazing! You’ve certainly inherited her creative ability. How about over the overhead door on the side of the workshop for the eagle? Thank you for giving us the history of the emblem and I think it’s wonderful that you have that memory of your grandparents!
I’m sure others will suggest the same, but i think it’d look really nice above the garage door on your shed. ☺️
Yes, above the garage doors of your workshop.
I see two alternatives for displaying your ‘freedom flyer’. You could mount it above your closet window on the front of the house or you could mount it on the side wall on the porch. The option of the side wall of the porch is not as prominent, but I think it makes a more intimate display with your porch decorations.
That is so interesting! When we bought our home 5 years ago the previous owners had one hanging over the garage door but they took it with them when they moved. It irritated me because I had to find something to replace it but now I totally understand why they wouldn’t leave it!
On the gable above the closet window!
Thanks for that. I knew about this and have seen where it’s popularity in the past few decades has lost its appeal. But go anywhere up in the Northeast and you will see one on just about every house. We have my parents one, and since our house is also paid off, I will just have to find a good place for it. Our garage out front unfortunately is just too large for size of the eagle that we have. But I am pretty sure when we finish the workshop that will be right next door, I will be able to put it on it. Benjamin Franklin wanted to adopt the North American Wild Turkey as our national bird, it’s a good bird, and very tasty, but not as majestic as the Bald Eagle. Now, as for majestic, we lived in Alaska and when you see a bald eagle fighting with seagulls over a dumpster at McDonald’s, it’s not quite as majestic as you can imagine, but it makes you chuckle, nonetheless.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that you’re going to hang that magnificent treasure on your front porch wall.
This story was everything to me, thank you!
I’ve seen countless “freedom flyers” above garage doors and front doors, here in Texas and in the upper midwest and never had a clue the meaning behind them. What a rich bit of history you shared with us this morning 🙂
I learned this past weekend the very same information. What a beautiful story yours has and I am so happy that you are going to proudly display it! Like you, I’m not a metal decor person, but being a native Texan, I admire people’s homes with it and the spirit behind it. I cannot wait to see where this very special symbol (your grandparents making it much more special) ends up at your beautiful home! You are the best, Kristi!
P.S. Your mom’s beautiful painting – WOW!