Rep. Boyle Calls for Federal Protections for Independence Mall and Other Historic Sites

Bill aims to safeguard Philadelphia landmarks like the President's House Site from political interference.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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U.S. Representative Brendan Boyle has introduced a bill to provide federal protections for historic landmarks in Philadelphia, including the President's House Site, which recently had an exhibit about the history of slavery removed by the Trump administration. Boyle says the bill is necessary to ensure these important sites can continue to tell the full, unvarnished story of American history.

Why it matters

The President's House Site and other historic landmarks in Philadelphia's Independence National Historical Park are crucial for educating visitors about the complex legacy of the American Revolution and the nation's founding, including the role of slavery. Protecting these sites from political interference is important for preserving an accurate historical record.

The details

Boyle's bill would establish federal protections for Independence Mall and other historic sites in Philadelphia to prevent the removal or alteration of exhibits and memorials without approval from Congress. This comes after the Trump administration removed an exhibit about the history of slavery at the President's House Site, which is located near the Liberty Bell Center. Advocates say these sites are part of an interconnected 'web' of historic landmarks that together tell the full story of America's founding.

  • In 2026, Rep. Boyle introduced a bill to protect historic sites in Philadelphia.
  • In the past, the Trump administration removed an exhibit about slavery from the President's House Site.

The players

Rep. Brendan Boyle

A U.S. Representative who introduced a bill to provide federal protections for historic landmarks in Philadelphia.

Beth Hessel

The executive director of the Athenaeum of Philadelphia, a 200-year-old cultural institution that serves as a library, museum and forum.

Sean Connolly

The executive director of the Arch Street Meeting House, a historic site that receives about 70,000 tourists per year.

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What they’re saying

“On my many visits to the President's House memorial exhibition, I am struck by its careful historical and archaeological documentation and the powerful symbolism of the open framework of the house, whose back door leads to what had been the President's House slave quarters and is now the entrance to the Liberty Bell Center.”

— Beth Hessel, Executive Director, Athenaeum of Philadelphia (whyy.org)

“The historic district of Philadelphia is a web of interlocking historic sites, museums and cultural institutions. The beating heart of that web is, of course, Independence National Historical Park. The other sites throughout the neighborhood rely on this park to share the stories of the broad American history which took place here. The good, the bad, the complicated and the straightforward. The story presented at the President's House is one such example of that American complexity, of revolution and idealism stained by the enslavement of others.”

— Sean Connolly, Executive Director, Arch Street Meeting House (whyy.org)

What’s next

If the makeup of Congress changes after the midterm elections, Rep. Boyle hopes to become budget chairman, which could increase support for his bill to protect historic sites in Philadelphia.

The takeaway

Preserving the full, unvarnished history of America's founding at sites like the President's House is crucial for educating the public and ensuring that all aspects of the nation's complex legacy are represented. Protecting these landmarks from political interference is an important step in upholding the integrity of the historical record.