At 239 Arch Street in Old City, a small brick house with a big story welcomes Philadelphia families: the Betsy Ross House, known as the birthplace of the American flag. Here, upholsterer Betsy Ross is said to have sewn the first Stars and Stripes, and today the house is alive with the sights and sounds of the 18th century.
Self-guided tours lead through the upholstery shop, parlor and bedrooms furnished as Betsy knew them, while an audio tour shares her daring elopement, her years as a widowed working mother, and the latest research on the first-flag story. Children get their own audio adventure, solving 13 History Mysteries as they explore, and the sunny courtyard hosts storytellers, colonial crafts and special events like historic chocolate making.
The Betsy Ross House, run by Historic Philadelphia, Inc., is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from March through November. Self-guided admission is $12 for adults and $10 for children ages 6 to 12, seniors, students and military, with children 5 and under free. Pair it with the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, just steps away, for a full family day in America’s most historic square mile.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
