An exhibit of rare historic flags from the collection of Dr Jeffrey Kenneth Kohn will be the highlight of Flag Festival 2008, set for June 8‱5 at Philadelphia’s Betsy Ross House.
The Betsy Ross House hosted its first Flag Day event on June 14, 1891, and has long been the site of the city’s official commemoration. For 2008, tradition will be turned upside down with a weeklong event featuring the flag exhibit, guest lecturers, crafters and more and capped by a weekend street fair.
The festival kicks off on Sunday, June 8, the first day of National Flag Week. The centerpiece of the event will be an exhibit of 35 historic American flags, many of which have never been publicly displayed. Culled from the best of the extensive collection of flag expert Kohn, the exhibition will highlight the most rare and unusual homemade examples of the country’s first true folk art form.
Visitors to Flag Festival will have the opportunity to take guided tours of the exhibit conducted by Kohn, who will also be autographing copies of his book, American Flags: Designs for a Young Nation . On Friday, June 13, Saturday, June 14, and Sunday, June 15, Kohn will host the Betsy Ross House’s own Flag Roadshow, offering verbal appraisals of American flags in return for a donation to the Betsy Ross House.
While historic flags will be the festival’s main attraction, contemporary artists will display modern interpretations of the American flag and, just for fun, visitors will be invited to join in the attempt to establish a world record for the largest-ever Post-It Note flag.
The flag exhibit continues through August 22.
The Betsy Ross House is at 239 Arch Street, just blocks from Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. For information, www.betsyrosshouse.org or 215-686-1252.
