PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Betsy Ross House in Old City is hosting evening tours on select nights for the Halloween season, replete with macabre facts about the lives of Ross’ 18th century contemporaries.
Artificial cobwebs decorate the wrought-iron fence of the Besty Ross House. Visitors can see Ross’s grave site in the courtyard of the 18th century Philadelphia home and then step inside.
“Guests will get a dimly lit tour of the Betsy Ross House, with additional signage that we added throughout the house with macabre facts about Betsy Ross’ life and life in the 18th century,” says Lisa Acker Moulder, the director of the historic site.
Visitors will meet a history maker — “a first-person interpreter who portrays [Dr.] Benjamin Rush’s assistant” — with some choice facts about the city’s gruesome history of infection and inoculation.
“He shares stories about the infections, diseases and epidemics of the 18th century and how, quite often, the treatment was worse than the ailment,” Moulder said.
“So there are no jump scares. It's all based on history.”
The twilight tours take place on Fridays and Saturdays, between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., through October. Timed tickets can be purchased online.