Broad Stripes, Bright Stars, and White Lies

As we approach the nation's 250th birthday, we are looking back at some of the most important moments in American history. One of those moments is when Betsy Ross sewed the first American flag. But, as we discovered, there’s actually no proof that Ross sewed the first flag. In fact, we don't even know what the first American flag even looked like! 

In this episode of Sidedoor, we unravel this vexillological tall tale to find out how this myth got started, and who Betsy Ross really was.

Sidedoor also recently teamed up with the popular 99% Invisible podcast to explore the lesser-known history of the American flag. The episode, “Flag Days: Unfolding a Moment,” is available to listen to now. 

Guests: 

Jennifer Locke Jones, political and military history curator at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History 

Marc Leepson, journalist, historian and author of the book Flag: An American Biography

Marla R. Miller, historian and author of Betsy Ross and the Making of America