History of The President's House in Philadelphia

The President's House in Philadelphia: The Rediscovery of a Lost Landmark The complete article by Edward Lawler, Jr., published in Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, January 2002. Article updated September, 2005.
The President's House Revisited A sequel to the above article

Slavery in the North, Washington, and Oney Judge
A Brief History of the President's House in Philadelphia by Edward Lawler, Jr.
George Washington's Household in Philadelphia, 1790-1792
References to People from the Presidential Household Account Books
First-Person Accounts: The Washington Years A great number of quotations from contemporaries about the house and its occupants
Chickasaws Visit President Washington (1794) Written by Richard Green, tribal historian
First-Person Accounts: The Adams Years Quotations from Abigail and others about the house
Quotations Reflections on the house from later generations.
Samuel Fraunces: Black Man or White Man?
Honoring Samuel Fraunces at St. Peter's June 26, 2010
George Washington's Will July 9, 1799
Eulogy of George Washington delivered by Richard Allen
The Icehouse Pit Was this the first icehouse in America?
FAQ's Frequently Asked Questions about the President's House in Philadelphia

1780 Gradual Abolition Act Washington arranged for his slaves to leave the state at least once every 6 months to avoid allowing them to petition for their freedom, as provided by this act.
1788 Amendment to the 1780 Gradual Abolition Act
July 16, 1790 Act An Act for establishing the temporary and permanent Seat of the Government of the United States
Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 "An Act respecting fugitives from justice, and persons escaping from the service of their masters."

Please click here for our "Slavery" section.

Floor Plans

First floor

Second floor

Third floor

Maps

Hexamer and Locher Map 1858-62 with overlay of the President's House; plus a detail from Baxter's Directory showing the streetscape in 1859.
Hills Map of Philadelphia 1796 John Hills Map of what is today Independence Mall.
Burnt House Plan 1781 The property as it was in 1781
Burt Map 1875 Nathaniel Burt's copy of the 1785 Burnt House Plan
Flawed and corrected NPS maps, 1985 and 2002
Ground Plan Ground Plan of the house
Map Showing Locations of the Liberty Bell Center, the President's House, and Slave Quarters
Plan Showing Locations and Labels agreed to by the Ad-Hoc Historians and the Park Service

Images

Ground Plan Photo Photograph of the site, overlaid with a full-sized outline]
1947 Photograph Showing the Surviving East Wall of the President's House
1949 Photograph of Southeast Corner Sixth and Market Streets
1951 Photograph Showing the Demolition of 524-530 Market Street
Animation The site before and during constuction of the Liberty Bell Center, with the President's House
President's Desk The desk Washington used in Philadelphia at the President's House