The Philadelphia slavery exhibit is seriously flawed

Published January 30, 2026 6:00am ET



Outraged critics accused President Donald Trump of “whitewashing history” on Friday after the National Park Service removed an exhibit on slavery at Philadelphia‘s Independence National Historical Park in response to his executive order “restoring truth and sanity to American history.” It was the site of the residence of both President George Washington and John Adams before the District of Columbia was created. The exhibit centered on the enslaved people that Washington employed there. The Visitor’s Center website singles this out:

“See the names of the nine enslaved members of President Washington’s household who lived on the site. One of them, Oney Judge, seized her freedom while the Washington family was eating dinner. With the help of the free black community and a white ship captain, she eventually made her way to a new life in New Hampshire.”

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