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 is a historic house museum located at 239 Arch Street in Old City, traditionally believed to be the site where seamstress Betsy Ross sewed the first American flag in 1776. The small colonial rowhouse attracts over 250,000 visitors annually and is one of Philadelphia's most popular historic attractions. While historians debate whether Ross actually lived at this precise address, the house has become an enduring symbol of American revolutionary history and Philadelphia's role in the nation's founding.^[1]

The museum is operated by Historic Philadelphia, Inc., and offers guided tours featuring a costumed Betsy Ross interpreter, period-furnished rooms, and exhibits on colonial upholstery and flag-making. Betsy Ross's grave and memorial are located in the adjacent courtyard, where she was reinterred in 1975 as part of the nation's bicentennial celebrations.^[2]

Betsy Ross

Early Life

Elizabeth Griscom Ross (January 1, 1752 – January 30, 1836) was born in Philadelphia to Samuel and Rebecca Griscom, members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). She was the eighth of seventeen children. Young Betsy was educated at a Quaker school and apprenticed to an upholsterer.

At age 21, Betsy eloped with John Ross, an Anglican, and was "read out" (disowned) by her Quaker meeting for marrying outside the faith. The couple established an upholstery business.

The Flag Story

According to family oral tradition, in late May or early June 1776, George Washington, Robert Morris, and George Ross (John Ross's uncle) visited Betsy Ross and asked her to sew a flag for the new nation. The story states that Washington showed her a rough design featuring a six-pointed star, and Betsy suggested the now-familiar five-pointed star, demonstrating how it could be cut with a single snip of scissors.

Historical Evidence

The flag story first became public in 1870 when Betsy's grandson, William Canby, presented an affidavit to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania based on his grandmother's recollections. While no documentary evidence from 1776 confirms the story, historians note:

Betsy Ross was an established upholsterer who would have had the skills to make flags
She did make flags for the Pennsylvania Navy in 1777
She continued in the flag-making business for decades
The oral tradition passed through multiple family members

Later Life

Betsy Ross was widowed three times. Her first husband, John Ross, died in 1776 (possibly from a gunpowder explosion while on militia duty). She married Joseph Ashburn in 1777; he died in a British prison in 1782. Her third husband, John Claypoole, whom she married in 1783, lived until 1817.

Betsy continued working as an upholsterer and flag-maker until her retirement in 1827. She spent her final years living with her daughter Susannah Satterthwaite and died on January 30, 1836, at age 84.

The House

History of the Building

The house at 239 Arch Street was built around 1740. During Betsy Ross's lifetime, the property was divided into multiple rental units, and historians debate whether she lived at this specific address or a neighboring property (the numbering system has changed over time).

The house was purchased by the American Flag House and Betsy Ross Memorial Association in 1898, saving it from demolition. It was restored as a museum and opened to the public.

Architecture

The house is a typical Philadelphia colonial rowhouse:

Two and a half stories plus basement
Red brick construction
Three bays wide
Period-appropriate windows and shutters
Small front garden

Museum Exhibits

The museum includes:

Period-furnished rooms: Depicting 18th-century life and work
Upholstery shop: Recreation of a colonial upholsterer's workspace
Betsy's bedroom: Furnished with period pieces
Basement: Exhibits on flag history and Betsy Ross's life
Courtyard: Betsy Ross's grave and memorial garden

Visiting the Betsy Ross House

Hours

Daily: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Extended summer hours: June through August
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day

Admission

Self-guided tour: Modest admission fee (check website for current pricing)
Audio tour: Included with admission
"Betsy Ross" guided tour: Available at scheduled times

Meeting "Betsy Ross"

Costumed interpreters portraying Betsy Ross are present during most museum hours. They speak in first person about Betsy's life, the flag story, and colonial Philadelphia. Interaction with "Betsy" is a highlight for many visitors.

Gift Shop

The museum shop offers:

American flags (including handmade reproductions)
Revolutionary War-era reproductions
Books on Betsy Ross and American history
Souvenirs

Getting There

SEPTA Market-Frankford Line: 2nd Street Station (2 blocks)
SEPTA Bus: Routes 5, 17, 33, 48
Walking: 3 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

Betsy Ross was originally buried at the Free Quaker Burying Ground at 5th and Locust Streets. In 1857, her remains were moved to Mount Moriah Cemetery. For the 1976 bicentennial, her remains were reinterred in the courtyard of the Betsy Ross House, where a simple memorial marks her grave.

Visitors can view the grave and memorial garden without purchasing museum admission.

References

↑ "Betsy Ross House". Historic Philadelphia, Inc.. Retrieved December 30, 2025
↑ "Betsy Ross House". Visit Philadelphia. Retrieved December 30, 2025

External Links

[hrh-1] "Betsy Ross House". Historic Philadelphia, Inc.. Retrieved December 30, 2025

[visit-2] "Betsy Ross House". Visit Philadelphia. Retrieved December 30, 2025

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