Betsy Ross House

Blue text around an illustration with an American flag on the right and left sides of a house on a white background

Betsy Ross was an 18th century American upholsterer who is best known for sewing the first American flag in her home in Philadelphia. For this reason, Philadelphia has come to be called “The birthplace of the American flag,” and her home was dubbed the “Flag House.”

In 1898, the Flag House and Betsy Ross Memorial Association raised enough money to purchase and restore the home, then convert it into a museum. They also purchased the two adjoining properties with the hope of creating a public garden. The property was given to the city of Philadelphia in 1941, and in 1976, the remains of Ross and her third husband, John Claypoole, were moved to the garden next to the house. The Philadelphia Historical Society took over the property in 1995 and still maintains it today.