Federal Court Allows National Park Service to Replace Slavery Exhibit in Philadelphia

A person views posted signs on the locations of the now-removed explanatory panels that were part of an exhibit on slavery at President's House Site in Philadelphia on Jan. 23, 2026. Matt Rourke/AP Photo

A federal appeals court ruled on June 18 that the Trump administration can move forward with replacing a slavery-related exhibit at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia.

The decision from the Philadelphia-based Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a lower court ruling that had blocked the National Park Service from removing the exhibit. The city of Philadelphia had won that earlier ruling after an exhibit describing George Washington’s ownership of enslaved people was taken down.