The National Park Service (NPS) has begun removing the slavery memorial at the President’s House in Philadelphia. This exhibit opened in 2010 to honor the nine people enslaved by President George Washington. The removal comes amid a review ordered by President Donald Trump under his 2025 executive directive, “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History”, which calls for museums and historical sites to eliminate materials the administration deems “disparaging.”
The outdoor exhibit, Freedom and Slavery in the Making of a New Nation, told the stories of Austin, Christopher Sheels, Giles, Hercules, Joe Richardson, Moll, Oney Judge, Paris, and Richmond, highlighting the paradox of liberty and slavery during the nation’s founding. Video and panel displays incorporated original bricks from Washington’s demolished home.
Michael Coard, founder of the advocacy group Avenging The Ancestors Coalition, expressed strong opposition to the removal, vowing “powerful action shortly” in response. Coard has campaigned for decades to preserve the history of those enslaved at the President’s House, achieving the memorial’s opening in 2010.
The Trump administration has framed the removals as part of broader preparations for the United States’ 250th anniversary in 2026. The executive order criticizes previous initiatives at Independence National Historical Park, including programs addressing institutional racism and the historical impact of slavery.
As of now, the NPS has not confirmed whether the removal is permanent, and the exhibit’s website still lists biographies and histories of the enslaved individuals. Advocates warn that these actions risk erasing critical aspects of America’s history, including the contributions and experiences of enslaved people at the nation’s founding.
Source: ABC News
