Broad Stripes, Bright Stars and White Lies

Betsy Ross sewed the first American flag. At least, that's what we were taught in school. But when historians go searching… there’s no proof to be found. In this episode of Sidedoor, we unravel this vexillological tale tall to find out how this myth got started, and who Betsy Ross really was. Guests: Jennifer Locke Jones, political and military history curator at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History Twitter: @jonesjl_si Marc Leepson, journalist, historian and author of the book Flag: An American Biography @MarcLeepson https://www.marcleepson.com/ Book link: https://www.amazon.com/Flag-American-Biography-Marc-Leepson/dp/0312323093 Marla R. Miller, historian and author of Betsy Ross and the Making of America Twitter: @MarlaAtLarge Book link: https://www.amazon.com/Betsy-Making-America-Marla-Miller/dp/0805082972

Om Podcasten

More than 154 million treasures fill the Smithsonian’s vaults, but where public view ends, Sidedoor begins. With the help of biologists, artists, historians, archaeologists, zookeepers and astrophysicists, host Lizzie Peabody sneaks listeners through Smithsonian’s side door to search for stories that can’t be found anywhere else. Check out si.edu/sidedoor and follow @SidedoorPod for more info.