This Thursday, our class visited the supposed house of early American patriot, Betsy Ross. Betsy Ross was an upholsterer who is famously believed to have designed the first American flag, known notoriously as the Betsy Ross flag. The house museum located at 239 Arch Street is agreed to be her home.
The building enters into a gift shop, which doesn't seem to be a part of the house's original 1740 design (the room itself, obviously she didn't have a gift shop). The self guided tour begins next, touring one through the main house, up and down winding stairs. Plaques dot the walls, celebrating the legend of Betsy Ross's creation of the first American flag. The guided tour, on the other hand, barely mentions it. Instead, the guided tour leads the listener through the life of Betsy Ross while describing the various rooms in Betsy's small house. The audio is littered with testimonials from Betsy Ross, which were quite clearly things she never said nor wrote. The tour itself is as small as the colonial house, ending after some 15 minutes. One must then return to the gift shop to return the audio device (not to mention, the audio specifically asks you to visit the gift shop).
If ever one of our field trips related to the readings, this was it. This place was the model of a house museum. The Betsy Ross House, on a smaller scale, attempts to accomplish much of what Colonial Williamsburg does. The house uses objects and buildings to contextualize history. The house also encourages nationalism through the narrative of Betsy Ross as a hard working early American. The place exists as a historical site, and there's no reason to think that Betsy Ross didn't reside there. However, the legend of her telling George Washington to can his six-pointed stars in favor of her simple five-pointed stars is likely a lot of exaggeration. There is no documentation to prove that Ross singlehandedly created the flag, and it is more likely that she was a member of a collaboration. In this way, the Betsy Ross House seems to function like every other house museum. It is a genuine historic site, but it spreads a fair bit of fiction. Because the place must hold up in a changing modern world, some facts are stretched to keep it interesting and valuable. This is the strange condition that all house museums find themselves in, and it is these faults that make them so interesting to study.
Hey!
ReplyDeleteI am a first year student at the University of East Anglia studying American and English Literature.
As part of our Reading Cultures module we are looking at American icons including the American flag and it's origins.
I found your entry interesting as you seem unimpressed by your visit to the Betsy Ross house and refer to it as being strongly fictitious. You also show no belief in the Betsy Ross story. The authenticity of the her story was something we discussed in one of our seminars, and like you appear to be in your blog, we were also sceptical about her role in creating the first American flag. Did the fact that the story was not definitely true affect your experience of the tour in any way?
Ultimately we came to the conclusion that whether the story was true or not didn't really matter as it was a nice story to believe about the first flag. I was wandering whether you liked the story as a potential explanation of the first flag or would you prefer the truth?
Here in the UK our Union Flag doesn't have much personal significance to anyone and everyone felt that in America the flag had far more importance, would you agree with this? Or have we been making assumptions based on our reading and what we see in the media?
In the same seminar we discussed the original flag which is now beyond repair and shared opinions on whether we thought the original flag should be restored or not. We felt that it was an artefact and showed the battle scars of American history so should not be restored as it would be like getting a new flag. Do you believe that the flag should be restored or left as an original in it's tattered state?
I am interested to know what you think in response to our seminar and my questions. Thank you
Lizzie Reeves (AMS)
Hello!
ReplyDeleteI am also a student at UEA currently studying for a degree in American Studies. We have recently been looking at the significance of Besty Ross on the American flag, and how she contributes too idea of the flag we have today.
It is interesting to see how the fable of Betsy Ross as the upholster of the American flag has impacted on you, as an American citizen. You mention that the first thing you are presented with on entering the house is the gift shop and that this forms a large amount of the attraction. I find this point fascinating as the House of Besty Ross itself seems to have become a victim of popular culture, just as her character has. Here Betsy Ross’ is merely presenting an opportunity for bringing in money as part of the advertisement of her name and her legend.
Another interesting point is that although you clearly point out the fact the Betsy Ross story is nothing more than fable and popular legend, the House still inspired you with thoughts of nationalism. We too have been studying the effects of American nationalism on America, and to a greater extent the rest of the world. The Betsy Ross story, although myth, clearly holds a significant place in American History for Americans and reinforces feelings of unity amongst the nation.
I like how you distinguish between the myth and reality of Betsy Ross. Whilst much of the story is based on fable, it is evident that the House is a genuine historical site of an early America upholsterer. We too have been looking at this link between the myth and reality of America, and have come to the conclusion that a lot of the time the image we have of America is very different from the actual America. This can be applied to the Betsy Ross story as a whole. Furthermore, you comment on how many of the museums you have visited are genuine historical sites but have also become victims of fiction and legend. Do you think that this fiction is added to keep up the image Americans today have of their past?
Thank you!
Sophie Rowlands UEA
Plenty of questions! I'll try to address them all.
ReplyDeleteLizzie, I think my skepticism of the Betsy Ross fable may have helped me make the most of the tour. It was interesting to see the careful way in which they presented their "facts" about the life of Betsy Ross, and my skepticism let me notice how they were choosing to tell the story.
As for your next question, I do think I like the story. It's a pretty straightforward way of narrating the flag's creation, and while it may be a gross exaggeration, it still sticks in the minds of many Americans. I think knowing that the flag has a story behind it is more important than what that story actually is.
As for the flag itself... I think it really does carry the significance that you're told it does. Americans really see it as a representation of their nation and their ideals. For whatever reason, it is an important symbol to us Americans, even if it is just that: a simple symbol.
For your last question, I think restoration of the original flag would be a tricky subject. The ware and tare the flag went through are a part of its history. I agree with your thought that making it "like new" would be a bad idea. It is important to know how it was intended to look, but it is even more important to keep its historical significance by keeping it as is.
Sophie, to answer your question, I do believe that the myth is encouraged and perpetuated because of its influence on how Americans think about their past. It is a simple, straightforward story. It is also in some ways a glorious story, and the glory of it is what keeps it in the minds of Americans. As Americans, being proud of our history makes us proud of our nation today. As such, these colonial King Arthur-like stories are important. The story may not be true, but people feel encouraged by it.
Let me know if I need to elaborate further on anything!
Thank you for your responses to my questions! I found them really interesting and helpful in understanding the importance of the American flag to America.
ReplyDeleteLizzie