Uncovering the Truth: The Paradox of Liberty at Philadelphia’s President’s House
When you visit Philadelphia, the Liberty Bell is often at the top of your list. But just steps away lies a site that tells a much more complex story of American history: the President’s House site, also known as the Philly Executive Mansion. This memorial stands on the ground where George Washington served his second presidential term and John Adams served his first before the capital moved to Washington, D.C..
A History Once Hidden Under the Pavement
For many years, this vital piece of history was literally paved over. In fact, a public bathroom once stood directly on top of the site. It wasn’t until archaeological digs began that the truth was finally brought back to the surface. These excavations uncovered the foundation of the house and fragments of artifacts that proved what descendants of the enslaved community had been saying for decades: slavery existed at the heart of the American presidency.
The Paradox of Liberty
The site is a powerful example of the “paradox of liberty”. While the founders were fighting for freedom and the Liberty Bell rang nearby, George Washington held nine enslaved people at this very location. Their names are now remembered: Ona Judge, Hercules, Austin, Giles, Richard, Christopher Shields, Moll, Joe Richardson, and Paris.
Pennsylvania law at the time—the Gradual Abolition Act—required non-residents to free their enslaved workers if they remained in the state for more than six months. Rather than freeing them, Washington utilized a legal loophole, rotating the enslaved individuals out of the state every six months just before the deadline to ensure they would not be granted their freedom. Despite these efforts, two of them—Ona Judge and Hercules—bravely ran away from the site to seek their own liberty.
Architecture and Evolution
The memorial today is not a replica of the house but a creative interpretation of the original structure. One of the most fascinating architectural details uncovered is a bowed window, which historians believe served as the precursor to the modern Oval Office at the White House.
A Lesson in Leadership
The President’s House site serves as more than just a historical marker; it is a lesson in leadership. As the site demonstrates, strong leaders and nations must be willing to confront uncomfortable truths about their past rather than hiding them. By digging through the pavement—and the past—we can finally deal with the truth and work toward making things right for the future.
If you find yourself in Philly, take a moment to walk through this site. It’s a cool, creative, and deeply moving way to experience how history is still being uncovered today.
Uncovering History. Inspiring Leadership. The Travel in Time Show is where travel, history, and leadership intermingle with history teacher, author, and speaker Dan Blanchard
*Check out Dan’s book, “Travel in Time in the Northeast: https://www.amazon.com/Travel-Time-No...
*Keep an eye out for Dan’s future book, “Travel in Time in Philadelphia”
Watch Dan’s YouTube video on this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCSLM3gFfaE&t=6s
*Listen to Dan’s podcast on this episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5i2jaXDX0MOCOBIucZJOxD?si=KzlBpv2SRNSBOdodOb9y1g
*See Dan’s Interview with Ona Judge: (Coming soon)
*Learn more about Dan: https://granddaddyssecrets.com/
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