Trump admin replaces slavery exhibit at Presidents House

The Trump administration has replaced a long-standing exhibit on slavery at the Presidents House in Philadelphia, the historic home of George Washington, following a protracted legal battle. The new information panels were installed overnight on July 15, 2026, after a federal appeals court cleared the way for the change earlier this month.

The original exhibit, installed in 2010 at the site within Independence National Historical Park, detailed the lives of the nine enslaved Africans who lived and worked in the house with George and Martha Washington during the 1790s, when Philadelphia served as the nation's capital. The new panels, while still referencing slavery and the individuals enslaved by Washington, omit specific elements from the previous display. These include a map of slave trade routes, a timeline of slavery, and a panel explicitly titled "The Dirty Business of Slavery." One new panel is instead headed "Celebrating Independence Throughout the Years."

The Department of the Interior defended the update, stating in a release that the new panels are "full of historical context" and highlight momentous events at the park. The department said the exhibit acknowledges "the...