Exhibitors welcome historical debate at the Betsy Ross House

As children, we’re taught about pilgrims and Indians, about Thanksgiving and the birth of our fair nation. We learn about George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, and their roles in shaping our country.

While few women make the cut, Betsy Ross and the story of how she sewed the first American flag made it into our collective history. But alas, as we come to realize about so many historical iterations, there are inaccuracies.

Though the Betsy Ross story has been the topic of controversy for years, exhibitors at her famed Old City home have recently come to embrace her “sordid” past.

Philly.com reports that the Betsy Ross House opened “Stitching the Story Together,” this past Friday. It’s an exhibit that “displays informational panels throughout the house that tackle the controversy.”

Skeptics argue the lack of proof needed to truly credit Ross with the creation of the first flag, exhibitors stress her contribution as a pioneering businesswoman.

Either way, it’s an oral tradition that has found its way into the hearts of many a Philadelphian. And though questions may remain unanswered as to Ms. Ross’ past, her 2008 marriage to Ben Franklin could make even the most fickle historians appreciate a little diversion from the truth.