Slavery exhibits dismantled in Philadelphia, feds being sued

Workers dismantled exhibit on Jan. 22

On Jan. 22, 2026, National Park Service workers began removing panels from the President’s House site in Philadelphia.

The outdoor exhibit honored the nine people George Washington enslaved while living there as president.

Workers used crowbars to peel plaques from their frames, then placed the panels in a pickup truck and took them to storage.

The memorial had stood at the site since December 2010, making it the first federal property to feature a slavery exhibit.

Philadelphia was Americas first capital

Philadelphia served as the temporary U.S. capital from 1790 to 1800 while Washington, D.C. was still under construction.

George Washington lived in the President’s House from November 1790 to March 1797, and John Adams followed him from March 1797 to May 1800. The house stood just one block north of Independence Hall.

For nearly a decade, this building served as the center of American executive power before the White House was ready.

Washington brought enslaved people north

Washington brought eight enslaved people to Philadelphia in November 1790. A ninth person, known as Postilion Joe, joined the household after a man named Austin died in December 1794.

The nine were Austin, Christopher Sheels, Giles, Hercules, Joe Richardson, Moll, Oney Judge, Paris, and Richmond. Richmond was just 13 years old, the son of head cook Hercules.

These nine were among more than 300 people Washington enslaved at his Mount Vernon estate.

Washington exploited a legal loophole

Pennsylvania began gradual abolition of slavery in 1780. Under state law, enslaved people could claim freedom after six months in Pennsylvania.

Washington found a way around it. He rotated enslaved people out of the state before the six-month mark to prevent them from legally claiming their freedom.

Martha Washington took some of them on brief trips to New Jersey to reset the clock and keep them in bondage.

Two enslaved people escaped to freedom

Oney Judge escaped in May 1796 while the Washington family was eating dinner.

She fled with help from Philadelphia’s free Black community and made her way to New Hampshire, where she lived free for more than 50 years.

Hercules, the head cook, escaped from Mount Vernon on Feb. 22, 1797. He chose Washington’s 65th birthday as the day he fled.

Activists pushed for years to build memorial

The Avenging the Ancestors Coalition formed in 2002 to push for a slavery memorial at the site. Attorney Michael Coard was a founding member, and the late historian Charles Blockson also led advocacy efforts.

Philadelphia Mayor John Street provided initial funding of $1.5 million in 2003, and federal funding of $3.6 million came through in 2005. The combined effort totaled more than $5 million before the exhibit opened.

Exhibit opened in December 2010

The memorial opened on Dec. 15, 2010, making it the first federal property to feature a slavery memorial. The city of Philadelphia spent $3.5 million on the project.

Titled “Freedom and Slavery in Making a New Nation,” the exhibit featured panels, videos, and a glass enclosure showing the original house foundation.

Visitors could see archaeological fragments from where Washington and his household once lived and worked.

Executive order targeted the exhibits

President Trump signed an executive order on March 27, 2025, titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.”

The order directed the Interior Department to remove exhibits that “inappropriately disparage” Americans. It specifically mentioned Independence National Historical Park, where the President’s House sits.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum was given a deadline of July 4, 2026 to make changes.

Philadelphia sued the next day

The city filed a federal lawsuit on Jan. 23, 2026, naming Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and acting NPS Director Jessica Bowron as defendants.

Philadelphia argues the removal violated a 2006 agreement between the city and the park service. The city seeks a court order to restore the panels. Gov. Josh Shapiro filed a brief supporting the lawsuit.

Judge called arguments "dangerous"

U.S. District Judge Cynthia Rufe heard arguments on Jan. 31, 2026.

Rufe, appointed by President George W. Bush, told Justice Department lawyers their arguments were “dangerous” and “horrifying.”

The government argued it has the right to choose what message it conveys on federal property. Rufe responded that history cannot be erased once it has been learned.

Ruling expected before 250th anniversary

The United States will celebrate its 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026, and Philadelphia will be at the center of the celebration.

As many as 1.5 million visitors are expected at Independence Mall. Judge Rufe said she would rule quickly because of the anniversary.

The city’s chief cultural officer testified the site would be “bereft” without the panels.

Advocates vow to continue the fight

The Avenging the Ancestors Coalition is joining the city’s lawsuit. Michael Coard said the coalition will pursue legal action and public protest.

Community members have left flowers and signs at the site, including one handmade sign that read “Slavery was real. ” The Black Journey tour company said it will continue telling the history regardless of the outcome.

Visiting the Presidents House site

If you want to see the site for yourself, the President’s House sits at 6th and Market Streets in Philadelphia, just steps from the Liberty Bell Center. The outdoor exhibit is open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., requires no tickets, and has no admission fee.

You can still view the glass enclosure showing archaeological fragments from the original house foundation. The site remains part of Independence National Historical Park.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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