History is making headlines in Philadelphia, as a crucial exhibit exploring slavery at the President’s House site finds itself in a legal tug-of-war. Late last Friday, a U.S. appeals court allowed the Trump administration to halt ongoing work to reinstall the display, pending their appeal.
This exhibit, located on Independence Mall, delves into the complex paradox of slavery and freedom during America’s founding. It specifically highlights the lives of nine enslaved individuals who served under George Washington when Philadelphia was the nation’s capital in the 1790s. The National Park Service itself describes it as examining “the paradox between slavery and freedom in the founding of the nation.”
The controversy began in January when the administration abruptly removed the exhibit, citing a desire to remove information it considered “disparaging” from federal properties and planning to replace it with its own narrative. This move sparked outrage and legal challenges.
Senior U.S. District Judge Cynthia M. Rufe had previously ordered the exhibit’s full reinstallation by Friday evening, emphasizing that any new material must involve consultation with the city, as per a longstanding agreement. She stated the government “cannot do so to the President’s House until it follows the law and consults with the city.”
However, U.S. Circuit Judge Thomas Hardiman’s latest order puts Judge Rufe’s decision on hold. While the partially restored exhibit must remain in place and materials preserved, further reinstallation work is paused. The appeals court will now fast-track the dispute, though the legal battle is expected to continue for at least another month.
This exhibit, a product of years of research and collaboration, is seen by many as vital to Philadelphia’s integrity in telling its own history, especially with the nation’s 250th anniversary approaching. As one teacher, Kimberly Gegner, noted after visiting the site, “it had pained her to see the history removed.” The fight to tell the full story continues.
