Judge Orders National Park Service to Reinstall Philadelphia Slavery Exhibit

The ruling comes after the city sued the federal government over the exhibit's removal.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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A U.S. judge in Pennsylvania has ordered the National Park Service to reinstall a slavery exhibit at a historic site in Philadelphia, pending the outcome of ongoing litigation. The city sued the federal government after the exhibit, which detailed the history of slavery and George Washington's ownership of enslaved people, was dismantled and removed in response to President Trump's claims of an 'anti-American ideology' at cultural institutions.

Why it matters

The ruling is a victory for civil rights groups who have accused the Trump administration of rolling back social progress. The exhibit's removal sparked outrage and accusations that the federal government was attempting to whitewash history by dismantling displays that confront the nation's legacy of slavery.

The details

The exhibit was located at the President's House Site in Independence National Historical Park, where the first U.S. president, George Washington, lived when Philadelphia was the nation's capital. The city of Philadelphia sued the Department of the Interior and top officials, accusing them of breaking the law by removing the exhibit. On Monday, a federal judge granted the city's request to temporarily block the federal government's changes and ordered the National Park Service to restore the exhibit pending the outcome of the litigation.

  • The National Park Service removed the exhibit last month.
  • On Monday, February 16, 2026, a federal judge ordered the exhibit to be reinstalled.

The players

National Park Service

The federal agency that manages the nation's national parks, monuments, and historic sites.

City of Philadelphia

The city that sued the federal government over the removal of the slavery exhibit at a historic site within its borders.

President Donald Trump

The former U.S. president whose claims of an 'anti-American ideology' at cultural institutions led to the exhibit's removal.

Judge Cynthia Rufe

The federal judge who ordered the National Park Service to reinstall the slavery exhibit at the President's House Site in Philadelphia.

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What they’re saying

“The Court is now asked to determine whether the federal government has the power it claims—to dissemble and disassemble historical truths when it has some domain over historical facts. It does not.”

— Judge Cynthia Rufe, Federal Judge (Reuters)

What’s next

The judge's order to reinstall the exhibit is temporary, pending the outcome of the ongoing litigation between the city of Philadelphia and the federal government.

The takeaway

This ruling is a significant victory for those who believe in preserving and confronting the full historical record, including the nation's complex legacy of slavery. It sends a strong message that the federal government cannot simply erase or remove exhibits that challenge dominant historical narratives.