PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — A federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration does not have to reinstall all of the panels from the President’s House slavery exhibit, but the panels that have already been restored may remain in place as the legal dispute moves forward.
The decision on Friday afternoon partially granted the federal government’s request for a stay, pausing full restoration of the exhibit that tells the stories of the nine enslaved people held by George Washington at the site.
Crews with the National Park Service began reinstalling some of the panels on Thursday, returning portions of the exhibit above the former slave quarters.
READ MORE | Panels about George Washington’s slaves reinstalled at President’s House site on Independence Mall
Workers have begun restoring the displays about slavery at the President’s House site in Philadelphia.
“This is important to us,” said Pamela McDonald of Mother Bethel AME Church as visitors gathered to read the restored signs.
The Trump administration removed all 34 panels on January 22 after deeming them “disparaging” of America’s history.
The city of Philadelphia sued and initially won, with a judge ordering the exhibit to be restored to tell the stories of enslaved and free people of color during the nation’s founding.
“I’m thrilled that they’re going back up,” said Irene Laroche of Massachusetts. “I think everyone needs to know the full story of our country, and this is a part of that story.”
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Some visitors said the exhibit fills in critical gaps in public understanding.
“There are people who are just crying to know more about our experience and what we were doing,” said Brian Armstead of Yeadon, Pennsylvania. “When all these great men and women are being talked about in the history books – what were we doing?”
Panels that were part of an exhibit on slavery at the President’s House Site in Philadelphia are put back Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026.
AP Photo/Joe Lamberti
But the federal government argues that Philadelphia has no authority over the exhibit and does not own the land where the President’s House stands. That challenge leaves open the possibility that the panels could be removed again.
“I don’t think the battle is over yet,” said Michael Clemmons of South Philadelphia. “But I think there’s enough people committed to fighting for it.”
A circuit court judge issued the partial stay on Friday afternoon. Attorneys for the federal government have also filed an appeal, arguing that a 2006 cooperative agreement with the city applies only to Independence Park and not the President’s House.
City attorneys disagree, saying the agreement gives Philadelphia a say in what happens to the exhibit.
As the legal fight continues, supporters hope the stories highlighted in the exhibit – and the history they represent – will not be lost again.
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