The Betsy Ross flag is one of the most recognizable symbols of the American Revolution. Thirteen stars in a circle, thirteen red and white stripes, and a story that's been retold for nearly 250 years. But how much of the legend is true? Here's the full history of the flag, the woman behind it, and why the design still matters in 2026.
Who Was Betsy Ross?
Elizabeth Griscom was born on January 1, 1752, in Philadelphia. She was the eighth of seventeen children in a Quaker family. She learned to sew from her great-aunt Sarah and apprenticed with an upholsterer named William Webster, where she met her first husband, John Ross.
John and Betsy eloped in 1773 (marrying outside the Quaker faith got her expelled from the Meeting) and opened their own upholstery shop on Arch Street in Philadelphia. John died in January 1776 from injuries sustained while guarding munitions on the Philadelphia waterfront. At 24, Betsy was a widow running a business alone in a city on the brink of revolution.
She kept the shop open. She repaired uniforms, made tents, and sewed supplies for the Continental Army. That practical skill with a needle is what put her in the path of George Washington, or so the story goes.
The Famous Visit from George Washington
According to Betsy's grandson William Canby, three members of a secret Congressional committee visited Betsy Ross at her shop in late May or early June of 1776. The committee included George Washington, Robert Morris (a financier of the Revolution), and Colonel George Ross (Betsy's late husband's uncle).
They reportedly showed her a rough sketch of a flag with thirteen red and white stripes and thirteen six-pointed stars arranged in a circle on a blue field. Betsy suggested a few changes. The most famous: she convinced them to use five-pointed stars instead of six-pointed ones. To prove it could be done efficiently, she folded a piece of fabric and cut a perfect five-pointed star with a single snip of her scissors.
Washington was impressed. He redrew the design with five-pointed stars, and Betsy sewed the first flag.
★ Key Details of the Betsy Ross Story
| Date of visit | Late May or early June 1776 |
| Committee members | George Washington, Robert Morris, George Ross |
| Location | 239 Arch Street, Philadelphia |
| Key change | Five-pointed stars instead of six-pointed |
| First told publicly | 1870 (by grandson William Canby) |
Separating Fact from Legend
Here's where the story gets complicated. William Canby first shared the tale publicly in 1870, nearly a century after it allegedly happened. He based it on conversations with his grandmother and had affidavits from family members. But there is no written record from 1776 confirming the visit, no Congressional minutes referencing a flag committee, and no payment records from that specific commission.
What we do know for certain: Betsy Ross was a real person. She ran an upholstery business in Philadelphia. She made flags for the Pennsylvania State Navy Board in 1777 (those payment records exist). She continued making flags for decades after the war. The question isn't whether Betsy Ross made flags. She absolutely did. The question is whether she made THE first flag.
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1777 The year Betsy Ross received documented payment from the Pennsylvania State Navy Board for making "ship's colours." This is the earliest confirmed record of her flag-making work. |
Several other flag makers have been proposed as the true creator of the first Stars and Stripes. Francis Hopkinson, a New Jersey delegate to the Continental Congress and signer of the Declaration of Independence, submitted a bill to Congress in 1780 claiming he designed the American flag. Congress never paid him, but his claim has more surviving documentary evidence than the Betsy Ross story.
Most historians today say we probably can't confirm who sewed the very first American flag. But that doesn't diminish Betsy Ross or her contributions. She was one of several Philadelphia seamstresses who made flags during the Revolution, and her shop produced flags for the government well into the 1790s.
The Design: 13 Stars in a Circle
The Betsy Ross flag features thirteen alternating red and white stripes and a blue canton with thirteen white five-pointed stars arranged in a circle. The circular arrangement represents the equality of the thirteen original colonies, with no colony placed above another.
| 1 | 13 red and white stripes. Seven red stripes and six white stripes, alternating. Each stripe represents one of the original thirteen colonies. Red symbolizes hardiness and valor. White symbolizes purity and innocence. |
| 2 | Blue canton (upper left). The blue field represents vigilance, perseverance, and justice. The First Continental Congress chose these symbolic colors deliberately. |
| 3 | 13 five-pointed stars in a circle. The circular arrangement signifies equality among the colonies. No single colony sits at the top. The five-pointed star (Betsy's suggestion, according to legend) became the standard for all future American flags. |
One important note: the Flag Resolution of June 14, 1777, said only that "the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation." It didn't specify how the stars should be arranged. Different flag makers used different patterns: circles, rows, arches, and scattered layouts all appeared during the Revolutionary era.
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The Betsy Ross Flag Today
The 13-star Betsy Ross design has stayed popular for nearly 250 years. You'll see it on government buildings, in museums, at Revolutionary War reenactments, and on front porches across the country. It shows up regularly at patriotic celebrations, especially Fourth of July events and historical commemorations.
With the Semiquincentennial (America's 250th birthday) arriving on July 4, 2026, the Betsy Ross flag is more relevant than it's been in decades. The America250 commission has made the founding era a central theme of the celebration, and the 13-star flag is the visual centerpiece of that era.
The Betsy Ross House at 239 Arch Street in Philadelphia is open year-round. Visitors can tour the small colonial home where Betsy allegedly sewed the first flag. The house dates to about 1740 and has been preserved as a museum since 1898. It draws over 250,000 visitors annually.
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Other Revolutionary War Flags You Should Know
The Betsy Ross flag wasn't the only flag flying during the American Revolution. Several other designs appeared between 1775 and 1783, each with its own story and purpose.
| 1 | The Grand Union Flag (1775). Also called the Continental Colors. Thirteen red and white stripes with the British Union Jack in the canton. Flown before independence was declared. It signaled colonial unity while still acknowledging the British crown. |
| 2 | The Gadsden Flag (1775). Yellow background with a coiled rattlesnake and the words "Don't Tread on Me." Designed by Christopher Gadsden for the Continental Marines. Still popular today as a symbol of individual liberty. |
| 3 | The Bennington Flag (1777). Features a large "76" in the canton and an inverted star arrangement. Traditionally associated with the Battle of Bennington in Vermont, though the flag itself probably dates to later. |
| 4 | The First Navy Jack (1775). Thirteen red and white stripes with a rattlesnake stretched across and the motto "Don't Tread on Me." Flown by the Continental Navy and still used by the U.S. Navy today. |
If you want to learn more about the Gadsden Flag's history and how people display it today, we've got a complete guide to the Gadsden Flag that covers its origins, meaning, and modern significance.
Common Misconceptions About the Betsy Ross Flag
MISTAKE 01
Believing Betsy Ross designed the flag herself
The story says she suggested the five-pointed star and possibly tweaked the layout. But the overall concept (stars and stripes for the colonies) came from the Congressional committee. Betsy was a skilled seamstress who improved and executed the design, not the original designer.
MISTAKE 02
Thinking the circular star pattern was required by law
The 1777 Flag Resolution said "thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation." That's it. No arrangement was specified. The circle was one of many patterns used during the Revolutionary era. Rows, arches, and scattered layouts all appeared on period flags.
MISTAKE 03
Assuming the Betsy Ross story is completely proven
No written records from 1776 confirm the Washington visit. The story first appeared publicly in 1870. Historians treat it as plausible but unverified. What IS verified: Betsy Ross made flags for the Pennsylvania Navy in 1777 and continued flag-making for years after.
MISTAKE 04
Confusing the Betsy Ross flag with the Bennington flag
Both are 13-star designs, but they look quite different. The Betsy Ross flag has stars in a circle. The Bennington flag has an arch of stars with a large "76" in the canton and starts with a white stripe on the outside instead of red. Different design, different history.
Getting the facts right matters, especially during the 250th anniversary when people are paying closer attention to founding-era history. You don't need the Betsy Ross legend to be 100% proven to appreciate the flag. The design itself is a piece of American history that's survived nearly 250 years. That's powerful on its own.
How to Display a Betsy Ross Flag
Historical flags like the Betsy Ross design follow the same U.S. Flag Code rules as the current 50-star flag. A few specific guidelines for displaying the 13-star version:
When flying the Betsy Ross flag alongside the current American flag, the 50-star flag takes the position of honor (viewer's left or highest point). The Betsy Ross flag goes to the right or at a lower position. Never fly any flag above the current Stars and Stripes on U.S. soil.
The Betsy Ross flag should receive the same respect as any American flag. Don't let it touch the ground. Take it down in severe weather unless it's an all-weather flag. Light it at night or bring it in at dusk. When it wears out, retire it properly. (Our complete Flag Code guide covers all the rules.)
For indoor display, mount the Betsy Ross flag flat on a wall with the canton in the upper left from the viewer's perspective. It makes a great conversation piece in a den, office, or entryway. Check out our indoor flag display guide for detailed mounting instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Betsy Ross really sew the first American flag?
We can't say for certain. The story comes from her grandson's 1870 account, and there are no surviving records from 1776 to confirm it. What is confirmed: Betsy Ross made flags for the Pennsylvania State Navy Board in 1777. She was a real flag maker, but the "first flag" claim is unverified.
Why are the stars in a circle on the Betsy Ross flag?
The circular arrangement symbolizes the equality of the thirteen original colonies. No colony is positioned above any other. The 1777 Flag Resolution didn't specify a star arrangement, so the circle was a design choice, not a legal requirement.
Is it legal to fly the Betsy Ross flag?
Yes. There is no law against flying the Betsy Ross flag or any historical American flag. It's a recognized piece of American history. The U.S. Flag Code applies to all versions of the American flag, so follow the same display and care rules as the 50-star flag.
How many stars does the Betsy Ross flag have?
Thirteen. Each star represents one of the original thirteen colonies: Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Virginia.
What's the difference between the Betsy Ross flag and the current American flag?
Both have thirteen red and white stripes. The Betsy Ross flag has 13 stars in a circle representing the original colonies. The current flag has 50 stars in rows representing all 50 states. The star count has changed 27 times since 1777 as new states joined the union.
Can I display the Betsy Ross flag next to a modern 50-star flag?
Absolutely. Just give the 50-star flag the position of honor (viewer's left on a wall, or the tallest/rightmost pole when outdoors). The Betsy Ross flag goes to its right or at a slightly lower position. Both flags should be the same size or the historical flag should be smaller.
For more Revolutionary War history, read about what happened on Patriots' Day, when the Revolution actually started.
For the full story of how the flag evolved over 250 years, read our history of the American flag.
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