Place of Interest: Betsy Ross House
photo from Nationalgeographic.com
In June 1776, Betsy Ross was a widow struggling to run her own upholstery business. Upholsterers in colonial America not only worked on furniture but did all manner of sewing work, which for some included making flags. According to Betsy, in May the Congressional Committee called upon her at her shop. General Washington showed her a rough design of the flag that included a six-pointed star. Betsy, a standout with the scissors, demonstrated how to cut a five-pointed star in a single snip. Impressed, the committee entrusted Betsy with making our first flag. She finished the flag between late May and early June 1776, in time for the signing of the Declaration Of Independence in July. On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress, seeking to promote national pride and unity, adopted the national flag. “Resolved: that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.”
The Betsy Ross House is located in Old City Philadelphia, 239 Arch Street, between 2nd and 3rd street. It is open for tours 7 days a week from 10am-5pm. The suggested donation is $5 for adults and $2 for children.
Ross never owned this house, but rented here between the years of 1773 and 1786. The house was built about 1740 and consists of 2-1/2 floors and nine rooms.
Click here for more information on the Besty Ross House.
Besty Ross, Besty Ross House, American Flag, five pointed star
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