Designing the President's House Project

The President's House: Freedom and Slavery in Making a New Nation

The mission of the PH commemoration, from the Appropriations Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives (July 2002):

House Rpt.107-564 — DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2003

The Committee is aware of recent developments relating to the identification of the site of the first official residence of the President of the United States at the current location of Independence National Historic Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It has been discovered that George Washington and his household, including eight African American slaves, were quartered at the first Executive Mansion for six and one half years. Therefore, given the historical significance of this issue, the Committee urges the National Park Service to appropriately commemorate the concerns raised regarding the recognition of the existence of the Mansion and the slaves who worked in it during the first years of our democracy. Furthermore the Committee directs the Director of the National Park Service to submit a report to the Committee no later than March 31, 2003, detailing the actions taken at Independence National Historic Park to properly address and resolve this issue.

Source: cfo.doe.gov/budget/billrept/fy03/hint_report_hrpt_107-564.pdf

From the introduction to the project's RFQ (2005):

The President's House: Freedom and Slavery in Making a New Nation
A Project in Independence National Historical Park

This RFQ offers an opportunity to tell a story of national importance in an honest, inspiring, and informative way — through architecture, landscaping, imagery, and interpretive text placed on the threshold of the Liberty Bell Center, home to the symbol of freedom in this country. INHP considers this project to be one of the top interpretive opportunities that the National Park Service has to offer.

From 1790 to 1800, when Philadelphia was our new nation's capital city, Presidents George Washington and John Adams lived and worked in a mansion — the President's House — that stood a block north of Independence Hall. In that house, our first two presidents literally invented what it meant to be the Chief Executive of the United States.

The profoundly disturbing documented truth is that in this house, there also lived and worked at least nine enslaved Africans — kept by George Washington (not Adams) — in the same era when the founders of our country were declaring that "all men ar created equal." In this house, George Washington signed the notorius Fugitive Slave Act of 1793.

The story of the President's House is thus one of achievement and infamy — of the birth of a free nation and indefensible slavery existing side-by-side. It is a story of remarkable bravery, highlighted by the escape to freedom by Washington's chef, Hercules, and his wife's personal servant, Oney Judge. As a nation, we have a compelling obligation to illuminate the history of this house and its inhabitants in all its fullness. What better place to do this than on the threshold of the Liberty Bell?

Today, there is no President's House, its last remaining remnants having been demolished in 1951. There is no plan to recreate it through this RFQ. Rather, this RFQ is for the design of a permanent, outdoor commemorative installation to be placed on the footprint of the President's House (immediately adjacent to the Liberty Bell Center), covering approximately 12,000 square feet. The intent is to offer a stirring experience to visitors that complements and deepens the experience of the Liberty Bell itself.

The proposed installation will become the newest addition to a revitalized Independence National Historical Park, known as our nation's most historic square mile and an international destination that attracts visitors to Philadelphia from all over the world. More than two million visitors seek out the Liberty Bell each year in its new Liberty Bell Center, which opened October 9, 2003. This landmark project will reach and teach tens of millions of people for generations to come.

Source: phila.gov/presidentshouse/pdfs/rfqpresidentshouse.final2.pdf

Design Issues, August 2009

President's House Site Archaeological Dig

Maps, photo galleries, webcam, reports, and news

Winning Design Team: Kelly/Maiello

Information Package with "Preferred Plan" for meeting on December 13, 2007 [pdf]
Kelly/Maiello's winning design (on the city's website)
Press Release announcing winner
Kelly/Maiello Team Members
Design Competition Photo Gallery, including the Kelly/Maiello design

Design Competition

Earlier Meetings, Designs, etc.

President's House Site Meeting September 6, 2005, Representatives of the National Park Service and the Ad-Hoc Historians met to clarify what we now agree and still do not agree on regarding the physical space and the labeling of that space at the President's House. Included is a site plan with locations and labels.
Public Meeting November 17, 2005 (with audio)
Roundtable Consensus Document Completed in February, published in October 2004
Roundtable Minority Report Distributed Feb. 27, 2004
Preliminary Designs presented to the public on January 15, 2003, prepared by the Olin Partnership and Vincent Ciulla Design for the Park Service.

City Website

The City Website for the Project