Betsy Ross House

The historic home where Betsy Ross allegedly sewed the first American flag. Whether or not she actually lived here is debated, but it remains one of the most visited and most haunted sites in Philadelphia. The house was featured on Ghost Hunters, where investigators found evidence of a haunting.

The Betsy Ross House is one of the most visited—and most haunted—sites in Philadelphia. Built over 250 years ago, with the front portion dating to around 1740 and the rear section added 10 to 20 years later, it housed the famous seamstress from 1776 to 1779 during the period when she allegedly created the first American flag. Whether Betsy Ross actually lived at this exact address is debated by historians, but the home's haunted reputation is well established.

For more than 150 years, the building served as both business and residence for many different owners. It housed a shoemaker, drugstore, tailor, cigar shop, and even a tavern at various points—each tenant perhaps adding their own spiritual imprint to the building's energy.

The Betsy Ross House is rumored to be haunted by the famed seamstress herself. Visitors have reported seeing her ghost crying at the foot of a bed in the basement and hearing disembodied voices throughout the building. The site has been featured on SyFy's Ghost Hunters, whose investigation revealed a darker recent history: in 1980, two security guards for the home got into an altercation in the basement of the gift shop, and one was killed.

The Ghost Hunters team found that the landmark does indeed have paranormal presences within it. According to investigators Jason and Grant, workers at the Betsy Ross House are not only part of history—they may have the opportunity to come face to face with it.

One visitor shared a personal encounter: while touring the house, they heard what seemed to be an adolescent boy humming. Both the visitor and their companion heard it independently and initially thought the other person was making the sound—or perhaps someone was listening to headphones. Once they realized they were the only ones in the room and had both heard the same thing, they knew they'd experienced something paranormal.

Ghost stories abound among visitors, who report cold spots and apparitions—perhaps Betsy checking on her stitches, still devoted to the flag she helped create for a newborn nation.