In August 2026, the nonprofit preservation group Friends of the Tanner House acquired the Henry Ossawa Tanner House in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Located in the city's Strawberry Mansion neighborhood, the Tanner House was the former home of Henry Ossawa Tanner, a 19th-century Black painter whose work received international acclaim. The house, a National Historic Landmark, was owned by the Tanner family from 1872 until 1950.

In 2022, Friends of the Tanner House launched a fundraising campaign to save the historic rowhouse, which was at risk of demolition. In 2023, the National Trust included the Tanner House on its list of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. That same year, the Tanner House received a $100,000 grant from the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund to fund emergency repairs and stabilize the site. In summer 2023, the grant enabled the installation of shoring posts and walls, replacement of framing and sheathing, removal of deteriorated roof areas, and installation of a temporary roof covering. The Tanner House was successfully stabilized.

"As our nation commemorates its 250th anniversary, it is critical that legacies like Henry Ossawa Tanner's are preserved for future generations," said Brent Leggs, president and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, in the press statement released by Friends of the Tanner House and the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia. "The Tanner family's story is an inspiration for all Americans about the power of perseverance, self-determination, and artistic vision to shape a cultural renaissance not just in this country, but around the world."

The acquisition stands as a significant preservation milestone, enabling Friends of the Tanner House to continue preserving the historic home and sharing the Tanner family's story with future generations.