Flag Day: 7 interesting facts about the American flag and its history
1. Betsy Ross myth
Let’s just get this one out of the way right now: While legend has it that 18th-century seamstress Betsy Ross created the American flag at the behest of George Washington, scholars generally consider it a myth.
According to the Smithsonian National Postal Museum, the story of Ross creating the flag was first claimed in 1870 by her grandson, William J. Canby, and became widely accepted from there.
“In the years since this tale first came to light, historians have not been able to verify the claims of Canby, even after numerous and vigorous searches through diaries, letters, and journals of the Continental Congress,” explained the Smithsonian.
“No record exists of a flag being discussed around this time. While many Americans still believe that Betsy Ross was responsible for the first American flag, and while it makes for a nice story, sadly, it is most likely false.”
Nevertheless, some still insist that Ross was responsible, with the website Historic Philadelphia presenting a circumstantial case that the tale is plausible despite “the absence of written records.”
