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

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