Slavery Exhibit Signs Removed at Philadelphia Historic Site Following Trump Executive Order

Informational signs detailing the history of slavery were removed Thursday from the President’s House in Old City Philadelphia, a historic site operated by the National Park Service.

The outdoor exhibit, located at 6th and Market streets and once home to Presidents George Washington and John Adams, included information about nine enslaved individuals who lived there. Local activists had pushed for their inclusion before the site opened in 2010.

Philadelphia officials filed a federal lawsuit seeking to have the displays restored, saying prior agreements with the National Park Service require consultation before any exhibit changes are made. Mayor Cherelle Parker said the cooperative agreement dates back to 2006 and mandates that both parties meet and confer before alterations.

The Interior Department confirmed the signs were removed as part of implementing President Donald Trump’s executive order titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” which directs federal agencies to review interpretive materials for alignment with what the administration calls shared national values.

A department spokesperson said agencies are taking action following that review. The order also instructs officials to ensure memorials do not contain content that “inappropriately disparage Americans past or living,” and instead emphasize national achievements.

Preservation leaders say the President’s House was the only federal historic site specifically commemorating slavery in America. Critics called the removal deeply troubling, while several elected officials condemned the move as an attempt to whitewash history.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and multiple members of Congress spoke out, calling for an honest accounting of the nation’s past. Philadelphia City Council also passed resolutions opposing the executive order.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has until July 4, 2026, to complete changes at Independence National Historical Park, just ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations.

As of Thursday evening, the park’s official website continued to reference exhibits examining the paradox between slavery and freedom in the early United States.

Explore: NBCPalmSprings.com, where we are connecting the Valley.