Washington, the Useful Abolitionist
CultureWashington, the Useful AbolitionistIn Philadelphia, the Trump administration downplays the importance of slavery to understanding the first president.By John Garrison MarksNational Parks Service staff reinstall plaques outside the President's House in February. A new exhibit replaced them last week. (Matthew Hatcher / Getty)July 25, 2026, 7:30 AM ET ShareSave In 2010, the National Park Service installed an outdoor exhibit at the President’s House Site near Independence Hall in Philadelphia, which told the stories not just of George Washington but also of those he’d enslaved. One was Ona Judge, who escaped and evaded Washington’s yearslong effort to recapture her.
- ▪CultureWashington, the Useful AbolitionistIn Philadelphia, the Trump administration downplays the importance of slavery to understanding the first president.By John Garrison MarksNational Parks Service staff reinstall plaques outside the Pr
- ▪A new exhibit replaced them last week. (Matthew Hatcher / Getty)July 25, 2026, 7:30 AM ET ShareSave In 2010, the National Park Service installed an outdoor exhibit at the President’s House Site near Independence Hall in Philadelphia, which
- ▪One was Ona Judge, who escaped and evaded Washington’s yearslong effort to recapture her.
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
CultureWashington, the Useful AbolitionistIn Philadelphia, the Trump administration downplays the importance of slavery to understanding the first president.By John Garrison MarksNational Parks Service staff reinstall plaques outside the President's House in February. A new exhibit replaced them last week. (Matthew Hatcher / Getty)July 25, 2026, 7:30 AM ET ShareSave In 2010, the National Park Service installed an outdoor exhibit at the President’s House Site near Independence Hall in Philadelphia, which told the stories not just of George Washington but also of those he’d enslaved. One was Ona Judge, who escaped and evaded Washington’s yearslong effort to recapture her.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Atlantic.
