Neighboring Counties Join Philadelphia in Fight to Restore Slavery Exhibit

Counties cite shared history and importance of honest, inclusive representation of the past.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

Several counties neighboring Philadelphia have joined the city's legal fight to restore slavery exhibits at the historic President's House on Independence Mall. Montgomery, Bucks, Chester, and Delaware counties filed a joint brief on Monday, citing their proximity and shared history with Philadelphia, as well as the importance of maintaining honest and inclusive representation of history at nationally significant sites.

Why it matters

The President's House site is a nationally significant historic location that has faced controversy over how to properly acknowledge and represent the history of slavery. Philadelphia's lawsuit aims to restore exhibits that were previously removed, highlighting the ongoing debate over how to thoughtfully and sensitively portray difficult aspects of the nation's past.

The details

The joint brief filed by the neighboring counties supports Philadelphia's lawsuit to reinstate the slavery exhibits at the President's House site. The counties argue that their shared history and geographic proximity to Philadelphia make the accurate representation of this history important to the broader region.

  • On Monday, Montgomery, Bucks, Chester, and Delaware counties filed a joint legal brief.
  • Philadelphia recently filed a lawsuit to restore the slavery exhibits at the President's House.

The players

Montgomery County

A county neighboring Philadelphia that joined the legal fight to restore the slavery exhibits.

Bucks County

A county neighboring Philadelphia that joined the legal fight to restore the slavery exhibits.

Chester County

A county neighboring Philadelphia that joined the legal fight to restore the slavery exhibits.

Delaware County

A county neighboring Philadelphia that joined the legal fight to restore the slavery exhibits.

City of Philadelphia

The city that recently filed a lawsuit to restore the slavery exhibits at the historic President's House.

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The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges in how to thoughtfully and sensitively represent difficult aspects of history at nationally significant sites, with neighboring communities recognizing the importance of honest and inclusive portrayals of the past.