The slavery exhibits at the President's House are beginning to be restored by the National Park Service

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer

Published Feb. 19, 2026, 11:34 a.m. ET


Almost a month after abruptly dismantling exhibits about slavery from the President’s House, National Park Service employees began reinstalling the panels late morning on Thursday ahead of a court-imposed deadline. Just before 11 a.m. a four Park Service employees carted glass panels from a white van to a barricaded area at the site. They screwed each panel back into the brick.

The restoration is the latest development in the city and community stakeholders’ fight to preserve the President’s House after President Donald Trump’s administration ordered the removal of educational panels from the exhibit on Independence Mall last month.

U.S District Judge Cynthia M. Rufe sided with Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s administration on Monday, issuing an injunction ordering the government to “immediately” restore the site to its normal condition by Friday.

Eleven panels have been restored as of noon Thursday, with employees continuing to work. Shortly before noon, Parker arrived to the scene taking in the newly reinstalled exhibits. She shook hands with and thanked the Park Service employees. “It’s our honor,” an employee told the mayor. Parker did not take questions from the media.

Read more: https://www.inquirer.com/politics/nation/presidents-house-exhibits-slavery-restored-judge-order-20260219.html

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Panels are restored to the slavery exhibits at the President's House Site on Independence Mall on Thursday. (Eric Nixon/WHYY)


REFERENCES

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143603365
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143603549
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143608812
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143617035
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143617979
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143618241

[OLDMDDEM]

1. I'm glad to hear that. I'm sure Trump is grinding his teeth over this.

[Fiendish Thingy]

2. Just one more reminder of this one absolute truth:

Trump is not omnipotent, and the states and the people are not powerless

[Walleye]

3. Are they going to try and erase every stain on our history? What about Vietnam etc.

It makes me sick when I hear Trump say things like “we won World War III” he wasn’t there. He didn’t win it. He had no participation in it,
whatever, didn’t even pay taxes.

[twodogsbarking]

4. The truth can disrupt the system. You obviously have experience with that.

[sheshe2]

5. "It's our honor," an employee told the mayor. 💙

She shook hands with and thanked the Park Service employees. “It’s our honor,” an employee told the mayor.

[twodogsbarking]

6. It would be nice to call attention to the place; online, road signs, tv commercials, whatever. Have some fun.

[BumRushDaShow]

7. Well for one thing

some of the creative "tagging" on the empty display holders, got some "national attention" -

[twodogsbarking]

8. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1790-1800): Served as the temporary capital while Washington, D.C., was being constructed.

Maybe the capital should be moved back to Philadelphia until the ballroom is completed.

[BumRushDaShow]

10. And since slavery was banned in PA a decade before

Washington had to pack up his enslaved workers and trek down to VA every 6 months or they would automatically gain their freedom.

[twodogsbarking]

9. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1790-1800): Served as the temporary capital while Washington, D.C., was being constructed.

Maybe they should move the capital back to Philadelphia until the bawlroom is complete.