Download Betsy Ross House - PS164 Computer Lab

Betsy Ross House
Birthplace of the American Flag
Philadelphia, PA
What is the significance of the Betsy Ross House?
Notice the flag…what is the same as today?
What is
different?
Why?
The city was having a contest to decorate the Philly
Phanatic, so funny statues were all over Philadelphia.
Here is the sitting
room where she met
with those guests.
Compare the details
of the room with the
details in the
painting.
Legend has it that George
Washington, Robert Morris, and
George Ross visited Betsy in June
of 1776 to ask her to make a flag
for the new country.
Legend also says that Betsy Ross worked on the flag
in this room using the windows for natural light.
Betsy Ross was a seamstress and upholsterer, so part of
her home was a sewing shop. She ran her business from
this room in her house.
The kitchen was in the
basement. This was very
common in Philadelphia in
the 1700’s. Can you guess
why?
Warm air rises, so heat
rising from the fireplace
would have helped to warm
the entire house in the
winter.
Betsy Ross was believed to have completed the first U.S.
flag in 1777 in this home. She then gave it to the
Continental Army, and the design was used throughout
the Revolutionary War and continues until today.
A Quick Flag Quiz
• What did the stars
represent?
The 13 Original Colonies
• What do they
represent today?
One star for each state
• What do the stripes
represent?
The 13 Original Colonies