Betsy Ross House

Infobox building
building_name = Betsy Ross House
native_building_name=

---

caption = Betsy Ross House
former_names =
building_type =
architectural_style =
structural_system =
location = 239 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
owner =
current_tenants =
landlord =
coordinates = coord|39.9522|-75.1453
start_date =
completion_date =
demolition_date =
height =
diameter =
other_dimensions =
floor_count =
floor_area =
main_contractor =
architect =
structural_engineer =
services_engineer =
civil_engineer =
other_designers =
quantity_surveyor =
awards =
references =

The Betsy Ross House is generally recognized as the place where Betsy Ross lived when she may have made the first American Flag. Several of her surviving family members, including daughters, grandchildren and a niece, said that this was the site of the legendary event. [http://betsyrosshouse.org/hist_house/ Official website] ]

The house is located just blocks from Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The front part of the building was built around 1740, in the Georgian style, with the stair hall and the rear section added 10 to 20 years later. Ross is believed to have lived here, with her first husband, John Ross (d. 1776), from 1773 to about 1785.

Restoration

Over the years, various structural changes and general wear and tear left the house in dire need of restoration. In 1937, Philadelphia radio mogul, A. Atwater Kent offered up to $25,000 for the restoration of the house and commissioned historical architect Richardson Brognard Okie to do the work. Original elements were kept wherever possible. Otherwise, materials from demolished period homes were used. A new structure was added in the rear, made from period bricks. The front stairway and dormer were entirely replaced. The front doorway was moved to the opposite corner, and a new window was installed. Kent then purchased the two adjacent properties to develop a "civic garden." In 1941, the entire property, including the historic house and courtyard, were given to the city of Philadelphia. In 1965 an annex building was added to the property, and in 1974 the courtyard was renovated and a fountain added.

In preparation for the United States Bicentennial, remains deemed to be those of Ross and her third husband, John Claypoole, were moved to graves in the courtyard. ["Corrections", "Philadelphia Inquirer", November 22, 2005.] A private nonprofit organization, Historic Philadelphia, Inc., began leasing the property from the City of Philadelphia in 1995 and continues to manage the site to this day.

The Betsy Ross House has long been the site of Philadelphia's observance of Flag Day.cite news |first=Jeff |last= Gammage |title= Flag Day loses importance but lives on in Phila |url=http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/19939034.html |publisher= Philadelphia Inquirer |date= 2008-06-14|accessdate=2008-06-14]

External links

* [http://www.betsyrosshouse.org/ Official site]
* [http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flaghome.html Betsy Ross House] at UShistory.org

References