A rally at the President’s House at Philadelphia’s Independence Mall on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, called for the return of a slavery exhibit that was removed from the site earlier this year.
The exhibit at the President’s House examined the life of slaves who lived and worked there as President George Washington served as the country’s first president in Philadelphia.
The exhibit was taken down in January 2026 after President Donald Trump signed an executive order in March 2025. Under the order, the government must “take action, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, to ensure that all public monuments, memorials, statues, markers or similar properties within the Department’s jurisdiction do not contain descriptions, depictions or other content that inappropriately disparage Americans past or living.”
Organizers of the “Restore the Truth” rally said that it is intended to be “a public demonstration demanding the preservation and truthful telling of American history—specifically the stories of the nine enslaved Africans who lived and labored at the site of the nation’s first White House.”
The City of Philadelphia has sued to have the panels from the exhibit returned and a judge is weighing how to rule at this time.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, as well as Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties have joined Philly’s lawsuit.
It is unclear when the judge will release the decision.
This is a developing story; check back for more updates.