Full Breakdown
Trump Administration Alters Slavery References at Philadelphia Historic Sites
6/30/2026, 4:49:42 AM
Executive Review of Historical Content
In 2023 the Trump administration issued an executive order directing the Interior Department to review or remove any National Park Service exhibit that “inappropriately disparage[s] Americans past or living.” The order was applied to Independence National Historical Park ahead of the 250th anniversary.
Changes to the Second Bank and Independence Hall
At the Second Bank of the United States, the plaque under Thomas Jefferson’s portrait said Jefferson “never solved the problem of slavery,” named John Dickinson an enslaver, and described Moses Williams, an artist born into slavery. The revised panel only cites Jefferson’s vision of an “informed citizenry,” calls Dickinson a “fellow patriot,” and reduces Williams’s story to a brief note, removing slavery references. A touchscreen kiosk in Independence Hall’s second-floor Committee of Assembly Chamber previously noted “accused fugitives from slavery” before hearings; that language has been removed.
Data & Statistics
Thomas Jefferson owned over 600 enslaved people; John Dickinson, a Continental Congress delegate, enslaved people; and Moses Williams, born enslaved, later gained freedom. These facts were removed from the updated displays.
Official Statements & Responses
A Department of the Interior spokesperson asserted that no changes had been made, referring to the President’s House litigation. In July, a Boston federal judge ordered the Interior Department and the National Park Service to restore all removed exhibits nationwide before July 4 and to submit an inventory of changes. The Third Circuit Court of Appeals paused that order, leaving the deadline uncertain.
Criticism & Opposition
Avenging the Ancestors Coalition described the revisions as deeply troubling and emphasized the need for vigilance in preserving historical accuracy. Cheryl LaRoche compared the erasures to a murder with the weapon wiped clean, and Cynthia MacLeod said the National Park Service, praised for its historians and interpreters, is now being muzzled.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The court-ordered list records the Jefferson portrait change but omits any entry for the Independence Hall kiosk alteration, despite evidence of revision. The timing remains unclear, and the Interior Department’s denial conflicts with documented modifications reported by museum staff and journalists.
Verbatim Quotes
- “extremely troubling.” — Avenging the Ancestors Coalition
- “The preservation of history requires ongoing vigilance,” — Avenging the Ancestors Coalition
- “somebody committing murder and wiping the murder weapon clean, so that there is no trace.” — Cheryl LaRoche, historical and archaeological consultant
- “No changes have been made,” — Department of the Interior spokesperson
What’s Next
The appeals court’s pause leaves the July 4 restoration deadline in limbo while the Interior Department prepares the required inventory of removed exhibits. Stakeholders anticipate further litigation and possible congressional scrutiny as the nation approaches the sesquicentennial celebrations.
