One of those historical Philly institutions that I'm kind of surprised that I forgot to review sooner. But leave it to the Simpsons' 800th episode to provide a good easter egg reminder! At its core, it's the home of the woman who created the first American flag (Which might not be the full true story: https://historicphiladelphia.org/stories/did-she-or-didnt-she/ ). So its definitely worth at least a walk into its eclectic outdoor courtyard if you're looking to complete your Historic Philadelphia journey. However, when it comes to a tour experience, it can curve on being geared more towards the young historian while also being on the smaller side. For that experience, I would scale it toward three stars, but I give it four for the outdoor events I've enjoyed over the years. They put on several good outdoor film screenings throughout the summer and fall, with emphasis on classic horror during the Halloween spooky season. During First Fridays, I've also enjoyed outdoor workshops curated by the Ministry of Awe and other nearby galleries. Toss in things like a Triple Bottom Brewing pop-up and live music, and music performances, and they really do make the most of their courtyard. Bonus points for their kitten fountain! read more

I was a kid the last time I visited so to be back about 40 years later was awesome! A friend and I came to an evening event that included a little monologue from Betsy followed by a self guided tour of the home. I learned some new things, enjoyed going through the rooms of the home and being able to ask questions to the woman playing Betsy. It was a very nice evening. read more

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A museum focused on a woman in the historical area is a fun place to explore! The museum has a shaded courtyard in the front. It is a nice place to rest. You can grab a drink at Starbucks across the street or one of the many cafes in the area. Check out the "Little Rebel" heart by Ambrella in the courtyard. Stand next to it for a uniquely Philly photo! The museum entrance is the gift shop. The shop has some unique items and fun souvenirs. The museum is small so 1-2 hours is good. You actually walk through the house to look through the rooms. Each room has information related to that room. It also tells the story of Betsy Ross and the flag. It was cool to see all the period furniture and household stuff. read more

The Betsy Ross House - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We visited the site of the Betsy Ross house. We didn't have time to take a tour of the inside of the home. The workers at the house and store were very nice. read more

The Betsy Ross House - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I LOVED THE BETSY ROSS HOUSE! Again, another location in Philly that has been so amazingly preserved to show what the lease of Betsy Ross would have been like. From the furniture to the layout of the house. All of the facts and information provided is so great and the employees here really take their job seriously and are very knowledgeable on the subject. Would tell anyone in Philly to add this to their list of things to do. You can spend as much or as little time here as possible. There is also an audio guide available if read more

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This isnt a huge museum but it was a nice stop. We opted not to take the audio tour but I wish we would have. There is some information posted in rooms but Im guessing the audio tour would have gone into a little more detail. There are some steep stairs so keep that in mind but its an easy stop to complete in about an hour. read more

The Betsy Ross House - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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After reading a number of reviews on Yelp and Trip Advisor that described the Betsy Ross House as a tourist trap, I was very pleased to discover that it's anything but - my friends and I really enjoyed our visit here :-) While this isn't a huge museum by any stretch of the imagination, you get an amazing amount of bang for your buck when you consider that the price of admission is so inexpensive ;-) To make visitors feel at home, everyone is given samples of some very tasty hot chocolate upon arrival. Then you can enjoy what for me was my favorite part of the experience - live actors that guests can intereract with. Among the company you'll encounter not only Betsy Ross herself, but one of Betsy's house helpers, and Betsy's landlord (the person she rents the house from). The whole cast was both entertaining and engaging; the actors really brought the level of the experience up a notch. Bottom line: It's both educational AND fun to visit here, interact with the cast, and ask them questions about the life and times of Betsy Ross. Highly recommended! read more

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The Betsy Ross house was cool. The houses back then were super quaint. Apparently, Betsy and her husband rented a room in this small house. It showed the area in which she worked on making flags and quilts. Very interesting piece of history while you're in Philadelphia. read more

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We had a great time visiting the Betsy Ross House. We did a self-guided tour. It was near the end of the day so they were not too busy so we could really take our time reading and looking at the exhibits. The tour doesn't take that long but it is very interesting. The young lady acting as Betsy in the seamstress shop did a great job playing the part and answering any questions. They do offer discounts for different occupations. The value for the visit was great. The staff member outside when we left was very nice and helpful and he was more than happy to take pictures for you in front of the large flag. We really enjoyed our visit into this place of history. read more

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Ok - full disclosure - we didn't go in. We went here on the birthday in the birthplace of this glorious empire, 4th of July. We were originally going to check out the regular parade and then heard there was a dog parade and instantly went here. We were visiting our friend, and the friend goes to us, "we can leave if you guys want..." and my partner and I both in harmony go, " UH WTF NO THIS IS FANTASTIC". There was a turtle named LEROY! He won one of the accolades!!! Idk who organizes these events but they did a great job! Oh and it was also great that we had a day buzz going too hahaha. read more

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You won't spend long here, but 10-15 minutes walking through the house is all you need to experience the vibes of the 1700s and the founding of our nation. The staff ere great and insightful, especially the "Besty Ross" sewing the flag in her workshop. read more

My family (3 adults and 4 kids under 7y) visited on a Sunday afternoon. The kids 6 years and under didn't get anything out of the visit. For them, we just walked through a house. The tour of the home went really fast. There was a room in the bottom floor, the flag room, a bedroom, the upholstery store front, and then the basement. Each room was staged with items to make each room look as if you were taken back in time. Some of the items are original. I think the best part was the actress acting as Betsy Ross in the upholstery storefront. She welcomes you to here store, tells you a little bit about herself and then invites you to ask questions or talk to her. The rooms and exhibits had informative markers. The patio area is a great large area to relax and Betsy Ross' tomb is in off to the side. read more

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This is the house where American upholsterer Betsy Ross lived and where it was once said she sewed the first American Flag. Betsy Ross is one of the most well-known women in American history. It's a charming little house to walk around. You can do a self-guided tour or an audio tour for a fee. The house is just a few blocks from Independence National Historical Park. Betsy Ross made U.S. flags for over 50 years. Even though the story about her making the first flag has been disputed by historians, there is still a lot to see here. There are exhibits about her life and her work inside this historic place. There is also a Betsy Ross impersonator inside that you can listen to and ask questions about her life. The courtyard area is free to walk around. The gravestone of Betsy Ross and her third husband John Claypoole is also in the courtyard. read more

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Love the history!!! The how of the woman who made the first flag of America!!!! Would love a little more to do or look at there thats all! Other that that this is a must visit if you're into our countries history read more

Wow! The birthplace of the first American Flag! What an honor. You enter through the courtyard and to their giftshop if you would like to start the tour. A Self-Guided Tour ($10) will take about 30 minutes and their Audio Tour ($12) is said to take about 40-45 minutes. If it was an app I could have done on my airpods, I would have done it, but they have these listening wands that I haven't enjoyed at other museums so I opted for the self tour. As you go through the house, you can learn about Betsy Ross' hard life, how she lived and of course the origin of the American flag. Betsy Ross's life was filled with hardships because she came from a Quaker family and her family shunned her when she married a man with a different background. Even worse, she was widowed three times! She faced many tragedies and still overcame to be a successful entrepreneur and had her own business, which was not an opportunity women of her time had. She was at the forefront of women's rights in America. Thank you Betsy Ross. The house represents the early American home. I'm pretty not-tall and I had to crouch down in some areas. The space was tight. The appliances were not as friendly as what we are spoiled with today. I really like that the museum has signs up to allow 1 party in each space at a time so you can comfortably explore and take photos without others interrupting you. Unless they suck... then you can point at the sign. Just kidding, I didn't need to do that. For those who didn't pay attention in their US History classes: the red represents hardiness and valor, the white symbolizes purity and innocence, and the blue signifies vigilance, perseverance and justice. the 13 stripes stand for the original 13 colonies: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island. The 13 stars in the circle shape represented eternity. I really enjoyed the tour and I feel grateful for what Betsy Ross contributed to our country and the liberties we have today. read more

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Small museum with limited content. We visited The Betsy Ross House on a Friday in April, and we encountered about 10 other visitors. We chose to explore the house without the audioguide which may have been a mistake. There was limited information inside the house and only a few original pieces of furniture. It ended up being about a 20 minute visit. I would probably recommend paying for the audioguide to supplement your visit, but I do not think this is a must-see attraction in Philadelphia. read more

The marker out front gives the highlights. "Betsy Ross (1752-1836). Credited with making the first stars and stripes flag, she was a successful upholsterer. She produced flags for the government for over 50 years. As a skilled artisan, Ross represents the many women who supported their families during the Revolution and early Republic." The house is decorated and staged with furniture to show what life would have been like living in Philadelphia during the late 17th century and around the Colonial Era. And in the process of doing so, it goes into detail about Betsy Ross' life and how the American flag came to be. There is an audio tour that provides lots of detail and of course a gift shop with all sorts of flag memorabilia. [Round number review 18300 overall - 596 in Pennsylvania - 1822 of 2022.] read more

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Cool place to learn about American Revolutionary history. They have actors that told the stories of the time. Very cool. read more

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Great historical landmark to visit! I was so glad to make it here right before closing. I grew up reading a picture book about Betsy Ross and her creation of the first American flag, and this was a real treat to visit. I even got a student discount for admission! It's very tiny, and the walkthrough can be completed in 10 minutes. Unfortunately I couldn't buy anything from the gift store because I got kicked out because a private group was touring and the whole museum had to be exclusive to them. read more

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The Betsy Ross House is a nice little detour while out in Philadelphia. It is kind of hidden in plain sight. I'm sure that if I hadn't looked this place up online ahead of time, I would not have known of its existence. I am also glad that I looked this up beforehand because I was able to purchase my ticket and select my time of visit which made for a speedy entry into the house itself. To note, the courtyard and gift shop are free to visit. Evident by the number of tours that stopped in the area and did a quick once around the area. There are a number of seats in the courtyard that one could take in the weather, but I did notice that it was not the most used place in the city. If you were to come here and assume that is the only thing available to do, you would be incorrect. The real draw here is the house proper. One thing to note, even though this The Betsy Ross House in name, the fact that Betsy Ross was nothing more than a resident of the house as she was considered a renter. Probably why this place went through so many changes and nearly met the wrecking ball before being saved and preserved. Why doing your walkabout of the house, don't feel like you are being pushed through here by others. What I can say is do this at your own pace. Others that come here like to race through here and then say they were bored with it. Those people don't understand history and just like to complain. Like I was saying, take your time. By that, read everything as it is explained to your what happened where and who was in the home. The staff here were pleasant and somewhat enthusiastic to be doing their job. They were helpful and quite descriptive when answering questions. read more

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One of the overlooked sites in Old town Phila is the Betsy Ross house. She was an upholstered who had been commissioned to make the first American flag. This small house with a beautiful garden outside is worth a visit. Note-there are 3 floors of narrow winding stairs. The staff inform you of this if you plan to tour the residence. You can take either a self guiding visit or for a few dollars more get an audio device to help you get a better insight into the rooms. On the different floors there are "re enacters" such as Betsy and the laundress so you can chat with them in the period times and learn about what life was like in the early colonies. As previously mentioned Betsy lived here as a renter. Her bedroom displays the 13 Stars and Stripes flag with a cloth underneath it to honor current flag policies. There is a replica of a painting as you enter showing Washington and the dignitaries requesting Betsy to make and design the first flag. A small gift shop greets you as you enter. It is full of interesting memorabilia as well as souvenirs. A great gift idea would be a Tee featuring her original flag. Comes in as a novelty for Memorial Day and the 4th of July. People here are very friendly and extremely helpful. Interested in pressed pennies? They got one of those machines as well. Allow 30-45 minutes when touring the house. Outside nearby street signs point you in the direction of the famous landmarks. School field trips are held here as well but don't let that deter you. Definitely worth a visit if you happen to be near the historic section. read more

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Had a fantastic time here! Staff is knowledgeable and welcoming without being overbearing. Admission was $14 for the audio tour, which I would recommend! read more

You can't miss the Betsy Ross House when in Philadelphia, which is a great stop for your history walking tour. Located near where all the historic sites are in Philly, the Betsy Ross House is where Betsy Ross resided and made the American flag. I visited the Betsy Ross House on a Sunday late morning and the place wasn't busy at all. In fact, I was the only one touring the house at the time. The entrance is a gift shop where there's an informational table for the house/museum to buy admission. It was only seven bucks to get in. After I paid admission, I was able to walk through the house, and read up on all the signs, which detailed the different rooms and what it was used for. The house itself had a narrow stairway and you can look into the different rooms, but they are closed off for walking into. What was a fun quirk about this tour was that there was a person who was impersonating Betsy Ross, so you could ask her questions about her life, Philadelphia back in the day, and her work making the American flag. I would recommend for anyone who loves U.S. history to visit the Betsy Ross House when in the Philadelphia area. The house was cool to tour, getting a better idea of how people lived back then, and learning more about Betsy Ross. Crazy to see how small her room is for making such a large flag! It also was not a big house to tour, so it'll only take you 30-45 minutes. In addition to the house is the gift shop that you enter through to get to the house/museum, as well as the burial site of Betsy Ross. read more

The Betsy Ross House - Betsy Ross House - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

When I was in 5th grade, we had a field trip to Philadelphia. We saw the Liberty bell then visited Betsy Ross House. So when we were in the city for a wedding, we had few hours to kill...my son and I did a quick site seeing. Betsy's house was as I remembered. Tiny and cramped with history. Super cute and tight stairways even for my 5'4" body. Didn't have time for the gift shop. read more

We visited most of the historic sites in the City and this was one of my favorites. Visitors get to walk through a period house and there aren't many of them. I'm not sure if I believe the legend but they do a good job presenting that and what life in that period would have been like for ordinary people. There was a docent on the first floor who gave a nice talk. I think the Betsy interpretation was on the top floor. She was also interesting. The basement had some displays. I would recommend that you put this on your list. read more

The Betsy Ross House - Flag display (it's not really on the floor) - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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There is a $5 general admission fee to tour the house. They do have a $1 discount for military and other qualifying groups. Betsy only lived and worked here from 1776-1779. A very short time, but does not lose its importance. The house is small and it took my about 30 to 40 minutes to go through. I recommend making this visit as part of a larger itinerary including the nearby Christ Church Burial Ground, the Liberty Bell, the Constitution Museum and Independence Hall. The house is very educational and a large part of history. I learned a lot during my tour. There is metered street parking available near the house. The courtyard has a few socially distanced tables that you can kick back and take a break. The entire staff there is ultra friendly and very helpful. They also have a Betsy Ross actress, who never breaks character there. She roams the campus and gives an occasional speech in the courtyard. You end the tour, like most tours, in the gift shop. They have a nice gift shop which I purchased a few items from. Don't forget to view Betsy Ross's grave. Her third and final resting place. read more

Expensive. Not worth the walk through. Purchased tickets at a discount $10 each and took about 10-15 minutes to walk through.

Fun quick take in Philadelphia. My kids had fun walking through the house and somewhat listening to the audio tour. Meeting Betsy was the best part read more

Loved touring the house and learning all the history. Awesome to see, just a bit expensive as the tour of the house didn't last very long. The gift shop was great and I got a few souvenirs to take home. I wouldn't recommend, but I'm happy I went at the same time! read more

Bottom Line: A historical home that tells the story of Betsy Ross and inspires modern day patriotism. The Betsy Ross house is a historical home dating back to the 1700s that tells the story of Betsy Ross who is accredited with sewing the United States' first flag. Reservations are not required to tour the 250+ year old home. To tour the house, enter through the gift shop. Visitors can either take the self-guided tour for $5 or for $3 more take an audio tour. While you can still learn the history of Betsy Ross by walking through the home and reading the signage, I highly recommend the audio tour. For me, I like to be able to listen to narration while looking around at artifacts. The tour probably took about 30 minutes. The tour includes the parlor, two bedrooms, Betsy Ross' upholstery shop, the kitchen, the cellar and her grave site. The tour requires climbing and descending tight spiral staircases. Much to my surprise, we even got a chance to chat with Betsy Ross about sewing which was fun. Even though the tour doesn't end at the gift shop I think I am just now conditioned to checking out the gift shop at the end of any tour so we spent about ten minutes in there too. That was also where the drop off is for the audio tour device. To me the hallmark of a good museum or historical site is one that inspires me, sparks emotion and leaves me wanting to know. The Betsy Ross House checked off all three. In the moment it was a four-star experience but after some reelection, the Betsy Ross House gets a five-star review from me for sure. What I enjoyed most about visiting the Betsy Ross House is learning more about her. Betsy Ross was undeniably resilient - she was widowed three times, endured the death of two infant children, suffered through the losses of many other family members and had many other struggles before going completely blind during her last three years of her life prior to passing away at 84 years old. After doing some additional research, I learned that Betsy Ross *might* have lived in this home and *might* have sewed the first flag for the United States. Whether that is entirely true or not it doesn't matter to me. I still left this lovely historical home with great appreciate for Betsy and a deeper sense of patriotism and who can argue with that? Specials thanks to Carol Spacht and Jennifer Gray for whisking me away in their magical time machine back to 1776 and introducing me to Betsy Ross. read more

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The Betsy Ross House is a very cheap historical tourist thing to do while you spend a day learning about American history. For only $5 you can visit the home where Betsy Ross and her husband, John Ross, once lived and for an additional $3 you can get the audio tour. However please note that it is believed that Betsy Ross only lived here for a short time of her life. My husband and I came here on a Thursday afternoon, a little before 3 pm. We walked through the courtyard and into the gift shop to pay for admission. We decided to forgo the audio tour and just read all of the little boards. From this tour, you will learn that Elizabeth, or as commonly known as "Betsy" Ross was born into a Quaker family. She did her apprenticeship with an upholster and really learned the craft quite well. She eventually met his first husband, John Ross, who was also an upholster, and fell in love. Being from a Quaker family, her family did not support the marriage of Betsy and John. They eventually opened their own upholstery business, which surprisingly General George Washington (yep that Washington) was one of their biggest customers. Unfortunately John passed away after being married for only 2 years, during war time. Betsy eventually remarried to a man named Joseph Ashburn, in which they had 2 daughters. But one of their daughters passed away after 9 months. Sadly her second husband also died too. Things weren't really looking that great for Betsy since she was now a widow again, before the age of 30. Betsy Ross remarried a 3rd time, John Claypoole. He came to tell her that her 2nd husband died and eventually they fell in love. They were married for 34 years and had 5 daughters. Sadly only 1 survived into adulthood. The self guided tour of the house itself was very basic and it was bothersome to read the story boards around the house when there were several people crowding around it. My husband and I would just come back to those boards to read once people moved to other parts of the rooms to read. One room that I thought was interesting was when we met an actress who played Betsy Ross in which she would tell visitors about her life and could answer questions. She also taught visitors how to cut a 5 pointed star (you may pick up a small handout at the gift shop if you would like a copy or check out my photo), stating that was much easier to make a 5 pointed star instead of a 6 pointed star how George Washington had initially intended for the US Flag to have. Now there is some controversy that Betsy Ross did not create the first flag. Whether you believe that or not is your own opinion. But the history is here to learn about her life and how this may have come to pass (or if it is a legend that she made the first US Flag). Overall, this was a nice little tour that we completed in about 30 minutes. I wouldn't make a special trip to go out here, but if you are already touring other places like Independence Hall and The Liberty Bell, then consider making a visit. Please note that inside the home, there are narrow, spiral steps that are not handicap accessible. Also there are restrooms located downstairs in the gift shop basement. And lastly in the court yard, you can find Betsy Ross's grave. If you are interested in listening to free story telling, there is an employee who is out there that does that at various times. Also there is a small little food cart that sells soft pretzels, water ice, water, hot dogs, chips, etc in case you are hungry. read more

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Absolutely wonderful to. Is it Betsy Ross' house. Just amazing! They offer guided and self tours throughout the house with a woman who is doing some sewing and a woman that is hired in to wash the families clothes. They both were great at staying in character and answering many questions with ease. Outside in the courtyard is Betsy's tombstone and a fountain that has her beloved cat statues playing around it read more

The Betsy Ross House - Betsy Ross' bedroom - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Great spot to hit when visiting/exploring Philadelphia. For just a few dollars, you can walk through her house and learn a bit about her past. It was a fun little adventure, and including walking from the liberty bell area, to the house, through the house and walking back, only took about 2-3 hours. read more

The Betsy Ross House - Outside - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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We came here on a Sunday and made it right before closing at 5pm. The cost is nominal and the time needed is 30 minutes tops. The outside area has a nice courtyard the hang out in and that part and taking pictures of the outside do not require a ticket. Either does entering and shopping from the gift shop. Once through the ticketed area, you can see the narrow passage ways and stairs that the house encompasses. My favorite, and the kid's favorite, was meeting "Betsy Ross" and having her tell her story from her perspective. She also taught them a neat star folding technique. The actress playing Betsy was also the most informative part of the house from a historical perspective as well. read more

Very cool to see the Betsy Ross House as both an example of the time as well as of the woman and her family. We spent about 30 mins here and that was enough time to see the house and exhibits. read more

A must come to visit place while in Philadelphia! So interesting, light weight - wonderful for any age.p I really enjoyed reading about Betsy and her life. Being able to visit the old rooms was very interesting. They have an adorable gift shop and relaxing court yard with "American" snacks such as pretzels and hot dogs. I really enjoyed how they keep it affordable for visitors. It's nice to see this. read more

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This was a cool experience, and I honestly took a lot from it. The fact that they were able to keep the house intact and gives you an idea of what it looked like during that time. It's just amazing! You can tell that there is a lot of time and effort place in this historical location. The lady outside, dressed up as Betsy Ross, was very nice and was willing to answer all her questions. My only complaint was there was a very rude employee that was in the ticket booth. I asked the employee, "what's the price on to go inside?" She replied, "the prices are on the window," in a very rude way. Other than that rude employee, this is worth the experience, and it's only five dollars according to the sign on the window. read more

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This house is one of the stops thats small, yet significant. The staff is nice and the house is set up the way it was back in the day. The reenactors love what they do and its cheap at $10 a person. It also has a nice little court yard area were Betsy Ross is buried and you can even sit, eat, and enjoy the water fountain. read more

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I think I learned more at the Betsy Ross house than i did at any other museum that I visited in Philadelphia. I had of course always heard the fact that she made the flag for Washington but her story and the story of how the flag was made was really interesting. The Betsy Ross house is located near all the other attractions like Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell so it's easy to get to. The self-guided tour is 5.00 but it's an additional 2.00 for the audio tour which I recommend highly. Betsy and her husband did not live here long (or in the area as this is probably not her exact house) but while here she made the flag in secret since there were many British in Philly at the time. No one even knew she is the one who made the 1st flag until her grandson spoke at an assembly 40-50 years after her death. Here you will find the only document that she signed as Elizabeth Ross because she was widowed twice and married 3 times. The home is small and takes all of 30 minutes to tour. There's a nice courtyard to chill in with a snack cart and oddly enough her grave. There is also a gift shop of course because this is America damn it! read more

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So I don't think that the Betsy Ross house is worth the money and it's $5 or less per person. You literally get to 4 rooms in tiny house etc. There is nothing really that interesting or educational here. read more