PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The National Park Service has removed an exhibit on slavery at Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park in response to President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at revising historical narratives at U.S. museums, parks, and landmarks.
On Thursday, crews took down the exhibit at the President’s House Site, which highlighted the names and biographical details of nine enslaved people who lived and worked there under President George Washington. This included discussions about Washington's use of slave labor at the presidential mansion, portraying his relationship with those he enslaved as one of trust.
To challenge the permanent removal of the panels, the city of Philadelphia filed a lawsuit against the Department of the Interior and other federal officials on the same day.
Last year, the Trump administration ordered a review of all interpretive materials at National Park Service sites to ensure their accuracy and alignment with a shared set of national values. Elizabeth Peace, a spokesperson for the Interior Department, confirmed this in a statement to The Washington Post.
“Following completion of the required review, the National Park Service is now taking action to remove or revise interpretive materials in accordance with the Order,” Peace stated.
The removal has sparked criticisms about an ongoing trend seen during Trump's presidency to erase less flattering aspects of American history. The original directive signed by Trump in March cited the Biden administration's approach as advancing a “corrosive ideology.”
Trump’s order specifically criticized the prior administration for facilitating training that questioned Western foundations and promoted the interrogation of institutional racism among National Historical Park staff. It argued that such initiatives pressured park rangers to frame history narratives according to preconceived notions of racial identity.
