Early US Flags
Students' 13 Star Designs
Current Flag Design
Interview with Robert Helf

Who made the first 13 star flag?
Many people believe it was Betsy Ross. But some people think it wasn't.

What proof is there?
While no one has found any receipts or written notes from the time period that prove Betsy Ross made the first flag, oral family history claims that she did. (Click here to see sworn statements by family members.)

She was a well known local Philadelphia seamstress (a woman who sews for a living) who knew many people living and working in Philadelphia during the time when the colonies decided to break off from England and formed the United States.

History - Betsy Ross House

On October 5, 2005, Sherri Colan's class took a fieldtrip to visit the Betsy Ross House.

Fieldtrip summary by Michael S.:

The Betsy Ross house was built in the year of 1740. It tells an interesting story of someone who might have been the maker of the first American flag, which is the wonderful person Betsy Ross.

She was born January 1, 1752. She was the 8th of 17 children. She was a Philadelphia Quaker. She worked at her seamstress shop near Independence Hall in Philadelphia. In 1836 Betsy Ross died at the age of 84.

The Betsy Ross house was made of brick. We saw her eye glasses and her bible. We saw the graves of Betsy Ross and her husband.

We still don't know that she made the first flag, but she is still an important part of American History.

Student reflections about the Betsy Ross House trip:

Betsy had a nice living room. I liked the couches. I enjoyed seeing the lady dressed up as Betsy Ross. I also enjoyed seeing the kitchen in the basement. (Peggy)

I liked the bed. I liked to see the kitchen and the tools. I liked the stairs. (Melissa)

I enjoyed seeing the flag in Betsy's bedroom. I liked eating lunch in the courtyard. (Jon)

I like the house. I enjoy her bedroom. Betsy did a good job making our flag. I also liked being inside her house. The stairs were really tiny, but I wasn't scared. I enjoyed seeing the kitchen and the guns. There were no TV in her room! (Travis)

I feel like I was back in time when Betsy Ross was living. It was very interesting and fun. I like to eat in the courtyard. It felt very good. I like taking a picture with the nice man. It was very different. (Mike S.)

I like the gift shop - the action toys, the gun powder and bullets. (Rasul)

This is a photo of one of the sides of the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia, Pa. This kind of flag design, with 13 stars in a circle, is called the "Betsy Ross" flag.

This man is one of the guides at the Betsy Ross House. He is wearing a colonial costume.