President's House, Philadelphia

President's House, Philadelphia. This Georgian mansion, located at 190 High Street (now Market Street), served as the executive residence for George Washington and John Adams during the Philadelphia decade of the U.S. presidency from 1790 to 1800. As the nation's first official "White House", it was the epicenter of political power before the capital's permanent move to Washington, D.C.. The site is also profoundly significant as the location where nine enslaved Africans, including Oney Judge and Hercules, were held in bondage by President Washington, a fact that has shaped its modern interpretation and memorialization.

History

The house was originally built in 1767 for Mary Lawrence Masters, a wealthy widow, and was later purchased by Richard Penn, the last lieutenant governor of the Province of Pennsylvania. Following the Residence Act of 1790, which designated Philadelphia as the temporary national capital, the federal government rented the property for use by President George Washington. Washington occupied the house from November 1790 to March 1797, after which his successor, John Adams, resided there until May 1800. During this pivotal decade, the house witnessed key events of the early republic, including the formation of the First Bank of the United States, the signing of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793, and diplomatic receptions for figures like Thomas Jefferson and the Comte de Rochambeau. After the capital's relocation, the building served various commercial purposes before its demolition in 1832.

Architecture and description

Designed by master builder Robert Smith, the three-and-a-half-story brick structure was a prime example of Georgian architecture, popular among the colonial elite in cities like Boston and Williamsburg. Its facade featured symmetrical fenestration, a steep gabled roof, and a distinctive two-story bow window added by Washington to accommodate state functions. The interior was extensively modified by Washington, who added a large dining room for the weekly Congressional receptions, known as "levees," and private quarters for his family and staff. The property included a detached kitchen, stables, and a greenhouse, forming a complex that covered much of the city block near the intersection of Sixth Street and Market Street, adjacent to the current Liberty Bell Center.

Significance and legacy

The President's House holds dual and often conflicting legacies in American history. As the first official presidential residence, it was the setting for establishing executive protocols and national rituals under the U.S. Constitution. Concurrently, it is a central site for examining the paradox of slavery and freedom in the nation's founding, as President Washington circumvented the Pennsylvania Abolition Act to retain enslaved individuals within its walls. The documented lives and escapes of individuals like Oney Judge, who fled to New Hampshire, and Hercules, who escaped to New York City, provide critical narratives. This history directly contrasts with the ideals enshrined in the nearby Declaration of Independence and the United States Bill of Rights.

Commemoration and site

Following decades of advocacy by historians, activists, and descendants, the site was commemorated with an open-air installation titled "President's House: Freedom and Slavery in the Making of a New Nation," which opened in 2010 under the management of the National Park Service and Independence National Historical Park. The memorial, located on the footprint of the original house, features video presentations, historical accounts, and partial architectural outlines. Key elements include a glass vitrine overlooking the foundational remains of the kitchen and bow window, and a commemorative wall honoring the enslaved Africans. The project involved collaboration with the City of Philadelphia, the Avenging the Ancestors Coalition, and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

Controversies and archaeology

The commemoration process was preceded by significant controversy and archaeological discovery. Initial plans for the Liberty Bell Center in the 1990s largely ignored the site's history of slavery, prompting protests led by figures like Michael Coard and the Avenging the Ancestors Coalition. This activism forced a redesign and prompted an archaeological dig by URS Corporation in 2007, which unearthed the foundation of the original kitchen, a crucial space for the enslaved. The excavation also revealed artifacts like ceramic shards, pipe stems, and animal bones, providing material evidence of daily life. These findings directly informed the memorial's final design, ensuring the stories of bondage were placed in dialogue with the narrative of presidential history, creating a layered and contested public history landscape.

Category:History of Philadelphia Category:Presidential residences in the United States Category:National Historic Landmarks in Pennsylvania