Advocates Demand Restoration of Slavery Exhibit at Philadelphia's President's House Site

Critical interpretive panels remain missing despite court order, advocates say

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Advocates for the restoration of the President's House slavery exhibit in Philadelphia's Old City neighborhood say that critical interpretive panels providing historical context are still missing from the site, despite a court order requiring the federal government to fully reinstate the exhibit.

Why it matters

The President's House exhibit is an important memorial that tells the story of slavery in America and its connection to the nation's founding. The ongoing dispute over the exhibit's restoration highlights the challenges of grappling with difficult historical truths, especially as the country approaches its 250th anniversary.

The details

While some parts of the exhibit have been reinstalled, including video reenactments and narratives about the enslaved people who lived at the President's House during George Washington's presidency, several metal frames that once held interpretive displays remain bare. Advocates say the missing panels include a timeline of the transatlantic slave trade and stories of abolitionists like the Rev. Richard Allen.

  • On Friday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit granted the Trump administration a partial stay of a preliminary injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Cynthia Rufe.
  • The federal government's opening brief on the appeal is due March 13, and opposition briefs, including any amicus filings, are due April 13.

The players

Cara McClellan

An attorney who represents the Avenging the Ancestors Coalition, an advocacy group fighting for the restoration of the President's House slavery exhibit.

Michael Coard

The founder of the Avenging the Ancestors Coalition, who framed the legal fight as part of a broader debate ahead of the nation's 250th anniversary.

National Park Service

The federal agency responsible for managing the President's House site, which has appealed the order to fully restore the slavery exhibit.

Department of the Interior

The federal agency that oversees the National Park Service, which has also appealed the order to fully restore the slavery exhibit.

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What they’re saying

“This tells a story of slavery … the dirty business of slavery in the United States.”

— Cara McClellan, Attorney, Avenging the Ancestors Coalition (cbsnews.com)

“If we don't tell the stories of slavery and discrimination, it doesn't allow us to really grapple with this history and understand how conditions of inequality persist.”

— Cara McClellan, Attorney, Avenging the Ancestors Coalition (cbsnews.com)

“In order to truly celebrate America in the 250th, you gotta tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.”

— Michael Coard, Founder, Avenging the Ancestors Coalition (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

The federal government's opening brief on the appeal is due March 13, and opposition briefs, including any amicus filings, are due April 13.

The takeaway

The ongoing dispute over the restoration of the President's House slavery exhibit highlights the importance of confronting difficult historical truths, even as the nation approaches a milestone anniversary. Advocates argue that fully telling the stories of slavery and discrimination is crucial for understanding the persistent conditions of inequality in America.