National Park Service Restores Slavery Exhibits at President's House

Court order forces government to reinstate educational panels after Trump administration's removal

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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The National Park Service has begun reinstalling exhibits about slavery at the President's House site in Philadelphia, following a court order. The restoration comes after the Trump administration ordered the removal of the educational panels last month, prompting a legal battle between the city and federal government.

Why it matters

The President's House site memorializes the nine enslaved people who lived there during George Washington's presidency. The exhibits provide important historical context about slavery's role in the founding of the nation. The fight to preserve this site highlights ongoing tensions around how to accurately portray America's complex history.

The details

On Thursday, National Park Service employees began reinstalling the glass panels that had been removed from the President's House exhibits. This came after U.S. District Judge Cynthia M. Rufe sided with the city of Philadelphia and issued an injunction ordering the government to restore the site by Friday. The Trump administration had previously ordered the removal of the slavery-related exhibits, arguing it was not the government's role to 'convey a message' on the issue.

  • On January 22, park employees removed the exhibits using crowbars and wrenches.
  • On February 16, community leaders gathered at the site for their annual Presidents' Day observance.
  • On February 19, the Park Service began reinstalling the exhibits ahead of the court-ordered deadline.

The players

Michael Coard

Leader of the Avenging the Ancestors Coalition, who spoke at the Presidents' Day observance at the President's House site.

Cherelle L. Parker

Mayor of Philadelphia, whose administration filed the lawsuit against the Trump administration over the exhibit removal.

Cynthia M. Rufe

U.S. District Judge who issued the injunction ordering the government to restore the exhibits.

Donald Trump

Former president whose administration ordered the removal of the slavery-related educational panels from the President's House exhibits.

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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)

What’s next

The judge will decide whether to grant the Trump administration's request for a stay on the injunction while they appeal the ruling.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing debate over how to accurately portray America's history of slavery, and the tensions that can arise when the federal government and local communities have differing views on how to memorialize these complex issues.