Though the original President’s House was torn down in 1832, the present-day structure is no less illuminating. Resembling a half-built, colonial-style house that’s open to the elements, the space explores the contradiction between the Founding Fathers’ quest for liberty even while they denied enslaved people their own civil rights. Within, text panels and videos tell the stories of the enslaved people who worked for Presidents George Washington and John Adams, and archaeological artifacts are also displayed. The area is both a place for silent reflection and for education about a less-discussed but critical aspect of early United States history.
The President’s House is open to all visitors for self-led tours. It’s also possible to visit it—and the other highlights of Independence National Historical Park—on a range of guided tours, from African American history–themed itineraries to Old City walking tours.