Betsy Ross House
| Type | Historic house museum |
|---|---|
| Address | 239 Arch Street |
| Map | View on Google Maps |
| Neighborhood | Old City |
| Phone | (215) 629-4026 |
| Website | Official site |
| Established | 1740 (house); 1898 (museum) |
| Founder | Historic Philadelphia, Inc. |
| Owner | City of Philadelphia |
| Hours | Daily 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Products | Historic house tours |
| Status | Museum |
The Betsy Ross House sits at 239 Arch Street in Old City, traditionally believed to be where seamstress Betsy Ross sewed the first American flag in 1776. Over 250,000 people visit each year, making it one of Philadelphia's most popular historic attractions. That said, historians don't all agree she actually lived at this exact address, but the house has still become an enduring symbol of American revolutionary history and Philadelphia's role in founding the nation.[1]
Historic Philadelphia, Inc. runs the museum and offers guided tours with a costumed Betsy Ross interpreter, period-furnished rooms, and exhibits on colonial upholstery and flag-making. Betsy Ross's grave and memorial occupy the adjacent courtyard, where she was reinterred in 1975 for the nation's bicentennial celebrations.[2]
Betsy Ross
Early Life
Elizabeth Griscom Ross was born on January 1, 1752, to Samuel and Rebecca Griscom, members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). She died January 30, 1836. The eighth of seventeen children, she studied at a Quaker school and apprenticed to an upholsterer.
At 21, Betsy ran away with John Ross, an Anglican man. Her Quaker meeting disowned her for marrying outside the faith. "Read out," they called it. The couple opened an upholstery business together.
The Flag Story
According to family tradition, in late May or early June 1776, George Washington, Robert Morris, and George Ross (John's uncle) came to Betsy Ross and asked her to sew a flag for the new nation. Washington allegedly showed her a rough design with a six-pointed star, but Betsy suggested the five-pointed star we know today. She even demonstrated how to cut it with a single snip of scissors.
Historical Evidence
The story didn't become public until 1870, when Betsy's grandson William Canby gave an affidavit to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania based on his grandmother's recollections. No documentary proof from 1776 backs it up, but historians do note several facts:
- Betsy Ross had the skills of an established upholsterer who could've made flags
- She definitely made flags for the Pennsylvania Navy in 1777
- She kept working in flag-making for decades afterward
- Multiple family members passed down the oral tradition
Later Life
She married three times and was widowed three times. John Ross, her first husband, died in 1776, possibly from a gunpowder explosion during militia duty. Next came Joseph Ashburn in 1777; he perished in a British prison in 1782. Her third husband, John Claypoole, whom she married in 1783, lived until 1817.
Betsy kept making flags and doing upholstery work until she retired in 1827. She spent her last years with her daughter Susannah Satterthwaite and passed away at 84.
The House
History of the Building
Construction happened around 1740. When Betsy Ross lived there, the property held multiple rental units, and historians still debate whether she actually occupied this specific address or a neighboring one. Street numbering changed over time, which complicates things.
The American Flag House and Betsy Ross Memorial Association bought the house in 1898, preventing its demolition. They restored it as a museum and opened it to the public.
Architecture
It's a typical Philadelphia colonial rowhouse. Red brick. Two and a half stories plus basement. Three bays wide with period-appropriate windows and shutters. A small front garden faces the street.
Museum Exhibits
Walking through, you'll find:
- Period-furnished rooms: Showing 18th-century life and work
- Upholstery shop: A colonial workspace recreated
- Betsy's bedroom: Outfitted with period pieces
- Basement: Exhibits covering flag history and Betsy's life
- Courtyard: Her grave and a memorial garden
Visiting the Betsy Ross House
Hours
- Daily: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- Summer hours: Extended June through August
- Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day
Admission
- Self-guided tour: Modest fee (check the website for current prices)
- Audio tour: Included with admission
- "Betsy Ross" guided tour: Offered at scheduled times
Meeting "Betsy Ross"
Costumed interpreters play Betsy Ross during most hours. They talk in first person about her life, the flag story, and colonial Philadelphia. Meeting "Betsy" is something many visitors remember.
Gift Shop
You can pick up:
- American flags, including handmade reproductions
- Revolutionary War-era reproductions
- Books about Betsy Ross and American history
- Various souvenirs
Getting There
- SEPTA Market-Frankford Line: 2nd Street Station, just two blocks away
- SEPTA Bus: Routes 5, 17, 33, 48
- Walking: Three blocks from Independence Hall
- On the free PHLASH downtown loop route
Nearby Attractions
- Elfreth's Alley (1 block)
- Christ Church (2 blocks)
- Independence Hall (3 blocks)
- National Constitution Center (3 blocks)
The Grave
Originally she was buried at the Free Quaker Burying Ground at 5th and Locust Streets. Her remains moved to Mount Moriah Cemetery in 1857. For the 1976 bicentennial, they were reinterred in the house's courtyard, where a simple memorial marks the spot.
You can see the grave and memorial garden without buying a museum ticket.
See Also
- Old City, Philadelphia
- American Revolution in Philadelphia
- Colonial Philadelphia
- Independence Hall
- Elfreth's Alley
References
- ↑ "Betsy Ross House". Historic Philadelphia, Inc.. Retrieved December 30, 2025
- ↑ "Betsy Ross House". Visit Philadelphia. Retrieved December 30, 2025