Columbus in Polk County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

1776 - Betsy Ross Flag

Photographed by Mark Parker, February 7, 2025

1. 1776 - Betsy Ross Flag Marker

Inscription. Family Legend - Betsy Ross' grandson William Canby reports that she sewed the first American flag in 1776. Legend has it that Betsy Ross made the first U.S. flag for George Washington. Canby's original paper of 1870 states the legend was passed to him by Betsy herself but that he had extensively searched government archives and that he found not a shred of evidence for it. No record of a Committee of Congress in 1776 working on a new flag (although the Marine Committee was procuring well-documented Continental Colors design flags for ships at the time).

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Patriots & Patriotism • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Vexillology series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1776.

Location. 35° 15.105′ N, 82° 11.847′ W. Marker is in Columbus, North Carolina, in Polk County. It is on Gibson Street north of Ward Street, on the right when traveling north. The marker is a part of the display of historic flags at Veterans Park. They are in a planter at the west side of the park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

postal address: 50 Gibson St, Columbus NC 28722, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Mountains. It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 1777 - Hopkinson Flag (here, next to this marker); 1781 - Guilford Courthouse Flag (here, next to this marker); 1781 - Battle of Cowpens Flag (here, next to this marker); The Charters of Freedom (here, next to this marker); 1781 - NC Hornet's Nest Flag (here, next to this marker); Polk County Civil War Memorial (here, next to this marker); The Brave Devoted Patriots (a few steps from this marker); 1775 - Flag of New England (a.k.a. Bunker Hill Flag)

Full view of the south side of the historic flags markers. Betsy Ross Flag indicated by the arrow image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, February 7, 2025

2. Full view of the south side of the historic flags markers. Betsy Ross Flag indicated by the arrow

(a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Columbus.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 11, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 19, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 176 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 19, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.