Betsy Ross Flag

historical United States flag

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June 22, 2026

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The Betsy Ross flag is a historical United States flag, reputedly made by Betsy Ross. While the story of her designing and sewing the first Stars and Stripes at the behest of George Washington is popular, there is no definitive historical evidence to support it.1

Betsy Ross, born Elizabeth Griscom in 1752, was a seamstress and upholsterer in Philadelphia. The legend of her role in creating the first American flag was popularized by her grandson, William Canby, in 1870. He claimed that Ross suggested improvements to a flag sketch presented to her, including the use of a five-pointed star.1

The first official U.S. flag, the Stars and Stripes, was adopted by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777. While Ross is known to have made flags for the navy, her direct involvement in creating the national flag remains unsubstantiated.12

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flag of the United States of America
…known as the “Betsy Ross flag,” although the widely circulated story that she made the first Stars and Stripes and came up with the ring pattern is unsubstantiated. Rows of stars (4-5-4 or 3-2-3-2-3) were common, but many other variations also existed. The new Stars and Stripes formed part of…
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…known as the “Betsy Ross flag,” although the widely circulated story that she made the first Stars and Stripes and came up with the ring pattern is unsubstantiated. Rows of stars (4-5-4 or 3-2-3-2-3) were common, but many other variations also existed. The new Stars and Stripes formed part of…
Read More

Betsy Ross
…his grandmother to make a flag for the new country on the verge of declaring its independence. The story then goes on to say that Ross made suggestions to improve a rough sketch of the flag that was presented to her—including the use of the five-pointed star rather than the…
Read More
…his grandmother to make a flag for the new country on the verge of declaring its independence. The story then goes on to say that Ross made suggestions to improve a rough sketch of the flag that was presented to her—including the use of the five-pointed star rather than the…
Read More