Workers Restore Philadelphia's President's House Slavery Exhibit

The exhibit featuring nine former slaves owned by George Washington has been reinstalled after a court order.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Workers have restored a slavery exhibit at the site of the nation's first presidential mansion in Philadelphia, ahead of a Friday deadline. The exhibit, which features panels depicting slavery in the United States from the Revolutionary War through the Civil War, was removed in January amid the Trump administration's anti-DEI policy. A U.S. District Court judge ordered the Interior Department to reinstate the exhibit, which supports "historic truths" about slavery at the President's House.

Why it matters

The President's House exhibit highlights the dichotomy of slavery in a nation founded on principles of freedom and equality. Its restoration is seen as an important step in acknowledging and preserving the full history of the site, which served as the official residence for Presidents George Washington and John Adams.

The details

The exhibit features nine panel illustrations of nine slaves whom President George Washington brought with him to the mansion while serving as president. The exhibit was removed in January but a U.S. District Court judge ordered its restoration, likening its removal to George Orwell's novel "1984". The Trump administration filed a motion to stay the order, but workers began reinstalling the exhibit on Tuesday.

  • The exhibit was removed in January 2026 amid the Trump administration's anti-DEI policy.
  • On Monday, February 17, 2026, a U.S. District Court judge ordered the Interior Department to restore the exhibit.
  • On Tuesday, February 18, 2026, workers began reinstalling the exhibit.
  • The deadline to restore the exhibit is Friday, February 21, 2026.

The players

Cynthia Rufe

A U.S. District Court of Eastern Pennsylvania judge who ordered the Interior Department to restore the slavery exhibit.

George Washington

The former U.S. president who owned the nine slaves featured in the exhibit at the President's House.

Cherelle Parker

The mayor of Philadelphia who welcomed the return of the exhibit and vowed to oppose efforts to remove it.

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What they’re saying

“Today, we celebrate the return of our history at this important site. We are thankful for all the supporters across the city to get us to this point.”

— Cherelle Parker, Mayor of Philadelphia (X)

“The exhibit supports "historic truths" about slavery at the President's House.”

— Cynthia Rufe, U.S. District Court Judge (The Hill)

What’s next

The legal challenges to the exhibit's restoration have not ended, and Philadelphia officials say they will handle them with "rigor and gravity" as they arise.

The takeaway

The restoration of the President's House slavery exhibit is an important step in acknowledging and preserving the full history of the site, including the dichotomy of slavery in a nation founded on principles of freedom and equality. It highlights the ongoing efforts to confront difficult aspects of the past and ensure historical truths are not erased.