Philadelphia Sues National Park Service Over Removal of Slavery Exhibit

City seeks to restore display at President's House site on Independence Mall

Jan. 30, 2026 at 10:15am

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The city of Philadelphia has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of the Interior and National Park Service over the removal of an exhibit depicting George Washington's enslaved residents at the President's House Site on Independence Mall. The exhibit, which cost the city $3.5 million, was removed last week after an executive order by former President Trump to review and remove exhibits that 'disparage' American history.

Why it matters

The dispute over the exhibit highlights ongoing debates around how to accurately portray the history of slavery in America, especially at historic sites. The President's House was the site where both George Washington and John Adams resided while in office, making it a significant location for examining the nation's complex history with slavery.

The details

In 2006, the city of Philadelphia and the National Park Service agreed to cooperatively establish an exhibit at the President's House site that would memorialize the inhabitants of the executive mansion, including Washington's nine enslaved residents. The city was responsible for the design, fabrication, installation, and completion of the $3.5 million exhibit, titled 'Freedom and Slavery in Making a New Nation,' which opened in 2010. However, the exhibit was removed last week after an executive order by former President Trump directed the park service to review and remove exhibits that 'disparage' American history.

  • The exhibit opened in 2010.
  • The exhibit was removed last week.

The players

City of Philadelphia

The city that funded and installed the exhibit at the President's House site on Independence Mall.

U.S. Department of the Interior

The federal agency that oversees the National Park Service, which removed the exhibit.

National Park Service

The federal agency that manages the President's House site and removed the exhibit after an executive order by former President Trump.

Renee Garcia

The Philadelphia City Solicitor who filed the lawsuit against the Department of the Interior and National Park Service.

Former President Donald Trump

Issued an executive order last year directing the National Park Service to review and remove exhibits that 'disparage' American history.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania will hold the first hearing on Friday morning, where they will hear arguments for a preliminary injunction to stop the National Park Service from further disposing of the exhibit panels before the case proceeds.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing debate around how to accurately portray the history of slavery in America, especially at historic sites like the President's House. The dispute over the exhibit's removal raises questions about the role of the federal government in shaping the narrative of the nation's complex past.