Located in Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park, the President’s House archaeological site was the location of the nation’s executive mansion from 1790 to 1800, housing George Washington and John Adams as they established the foundations of American democracy. As a historic site, it enables visitors to understand the historical context and contradiction between the principle of freedom and the institution of slavery by displaying the stories of the people who were enslaved within its walls and highlighting their stories of resistance and self-emancipation.

Forgotten for decades and at one point buried beneath a public restroom, the President’s House Site was reclaimed in 2005 and further bolstered in 2007 after archaeological excavations led by the National Park Service uncovered the mansion’s original foundations, cellar, and kitchen.

Today, the President’s House Site is endangered by federal actions that undermine its historical significance and public interpretation. Exhibits that formed the interpretive core of the site, allowing visitors to discover the lives of nine enslaved people and conceptualize the nation’s first executive mansion within the broader context of slavery in the early republic, have been removed. Following U.S. District Judge Rufe’s preliminary injunction, a portion of the interpretative panels were temporarily reinstalled.

With millions of people expected to visit Philadelphia during the nation’s 250th year, it is essential that all the interpretive materials be permanently returned to the President’s House Site so that visitors may experience the historical truth of the site through the eyes of the nine enslaved people that lived and labored there.

The President’s House/Slavery Memorial Alliance has formed as a broad coalition for groups leading community activism and legal action, including key partners like ATAC and the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia. Additionally, the coalition aspires to utilize the momentum to identify and recognize other sites where people were enslaved on federal property, furthering the educational impact that historical sites have on Americans’ self-discovery.

The President’s House Site was named to the National Trust's list of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places for 2026.