Grace Wisher, The 13 Year Old African American Girl Who Helped Make The Star Spangled Banner

Two hundred years ago, an African American girl made history—literally.

Less known is that Grace Wisher, an African American girl at just 13 years old, also helped make the flag.

The size of the Star-Spangled Banner and its six-week timeline for completion would have necessitated many people working on the flag, including Mary Pickersgill’s three nieces and Grace Wisher.

The home where Pickersgill and Wisher lived is now a museum called the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House.

As a tribute to Wisher, the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House drew in a ghost figure into the painting that represents the young girl.