The city of Philadelphia is suing the Department of the Interior and the acting director of the National Park Service after workers removed several panels at Independence National Historical Park detailing the history of slavery. The removal was in accordance with the highly criticized “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History” executive order signed by President Trump, which flagged for elimination any materials on federal land deemed to disparage the country.
But several other sites continue to educate the public about Philly’s connection to slavery and the abolitionist movement that fought against it. Here’s where to start.
Lest We Forget Museum of Slavery
5501 Germantown Ave.
This Germantown museum houses authentic artifacts serving as physical reminders of the harsh realities of the slave trade — from shackles and whips to tags and auction signs. You can visit LWFSM by appointment, Tuesday through Sunday, or take a virtual tour. The museum’s traveling exhibit is also available for your school or organization.
Johnson House
6306 Germantown Ave.
Home to three generations of an abolitionist Quaker family, the Johnson House served as a stop on the Underground Railroad. The Johnsons provided refuge for those needing shelter as they made their way to freedom. Abolitionists such as William Still held meetings at the site.
Historic Fair Hill
2901 Germantown Ave.
The grounds at Historic Fair Hill were bequeathed by George Fox, founder of Quakerism, for “a stable, a Meetinghouse, and burial place.” Historic Fair Hill’s cemetery serves as the final resting place for several abolitionists, including Robert Purvis, founder of the Vigilant Society, and Harriet Purvis, founder of the Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society. Visitors can attend special programming or schedule a tour to learn more about the Underground Railroad and abolitionists.
African American Museum of Philadelphia
701 Arch St.
The Underground Railroad did not only involve traveling by land. AAMP explores the use of waterways in the traveling exhibition “Sailing to Freedom: Maritime Dimensions of the Underground Railroad.” Museum guests can explore how enslaved African Americans used their seafaring skills along the Atlantic Coast to escape to freedom. The exhibit is currently on view until April 26.
Belmont Mansion
2000 Belmont Mansion Dr.
This historic mansion in West Fairmount Park, once home to abolitionist Judge Richard Peters, is now the Underground Railroad Museum. Visitors can go on a self-guided tour, explore historical artifacts, and learn about the mansion’s history.
The Black Journey
This tour company offers two-hour walking tours that shine a light on the history of Black resilience and resistance in Philadelphia. Tour options include the Original Black History Tour through sites in Old City; the 7th Ward Black History Tour of an area that was once home to the largest Black population in the city; the 1838 Black Metropolis Tour, which explores the Free Black population before the 1860s; Healing Legacies: Black Medical History Tour, which spotlights both groundbreaking work and unethical medical practices; and the Revolutionary Philadelphia Tour, guiding you through 1776.
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