PHILADELPHIA — The federal government has opened a new exhibition at the site of President George Washington's former home in Philadelphia. The updated display presents a broader perspective on the historic location at Independence National Historical Park.
The new installation, located near the site where the Declaration of Independence was adopted in 1776, was recently approved by a three-judge panel of the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals. The judges approved the project and said the new panels are "full of historical background."
The updated exhibit is designed to give visitors a broader view of the American story. It still spotlights the important stories of the nine enslaved people who lived with George and Martha Washington in the 1790s, and it also traces the nation's long path toward equality.
According to the Department of the Interior, the new panels "acknowledge the evils of slavery, including its injustices and hypocrisies, and, by telling the stories of the nine slaves that Washington kept in the President's House, remind us of their essential humanity."
Beyond these personal stories, the new exhibit guides visitors through the larger story of American progress. It includes more information about the rise of the abolitionist movement, how the Constitution addressed slavery, the end of slavery in Pennsylvania, and the 20th-century Civil Rights movement. The exhibit also looks at how Washington's and John Adams's views changed over time.
These changes follow a 2025 executive order that tells federally owned historic sites to focus on the "greatness of the achievements and progress of the American people." By including stories of early American struggles alongside the history of abolition and civil rights, the updated President's House site aims to give all visitors to Philadelphia's historic center a unifying, educational experience.
