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Condition Assessment of the President’s House Site

Arieal view of waist high red-brick walls and white window frames surrounding a glass cube with archeological remains. — With support from the Independence Historical Trust and the National Park Foundation, Independence National Historical Park is working to preserve the President's House Site.
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Location

The President's House Site is located on the corner of 6th and Market Streets, just north of the entrance to the Liberty Bell Center.

Project Overview

The Condition Assesment of the President's House Site project will identify threats to the exposed archeological site and determine deficiencies in the current glass enclosure, surrounding structures, HVAC systems, and lighting. The assessment will provide technical guidance for Independence NHP on necessary repairs, stabilization of the site, and recommendations for ongoing maintenance.

The President’s House Site is an in-ground archeology exhibit that preserves and interprets the site of America’s first executive mansion. From 1790 to 1800, Philadelphia served as the capital of the new nation. George Washington and John Adams lived and worked in what became known as the “President’s House”. An archeological excavation of the site in 2007 revealed surviving portions of the building’s foundations, including the partial foundation of a “bow window”, which is believed to be the precursor of the Oval Office in the White House.

Salt and bio growth near 18th century brick, surrounded by dirt — Areas of concern near the archeological remains at the President's House Site
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The current site includes an in-ground archeological exhibit that displays parts of the building foundations of the executive residence, as well as those of buildings that were built atop the site following the demolition of the house in 1832. The archeological portion of the exhibit (completed in 2010) is enclosed in a glass structure that has been subject to ongoing issues that have negatively impacted the site. Areas of concern include damage to historic masonry from water leakage, delamination of plaster wall remnants on the historic masonry, build-up of efflorescence salt deposits, and areas of biological growth.