The federal judge overseeing the case involving the exhibit examining slavery ruled on Monday that the federal government must continue to store the displays safely so they are not damaged. Federal Judge Cynthia Rufe toured the President’s House near 6th and Market streets on Feb. 2 to review where the slavery exhibit was before it was dismantled two weeks ago. Judge Rufe also went to the National Constitution Center where the panels are being stored by the National Park Service in order to inspect them. “I don’t know what I saw, but I didn’t see anything that concerned me about the condition. But, there are some marks but I can’t portray where they are from and I can’t say they are in any worsening condition for now,” Judge Rufe said. The city of Philadelphia is suing the Interior Department and the National Park Service over the Jan. 22 removal of the panels from the President’s House that documented the lives of slaves held by President George Washington. City leaders want the exhibit to be restored to its original state. On Monday, Feb. 2, city attorneys, a community action group and federal lawyers looked over the 34 items that make up the exhibit. Philadelphia Jan 30 ‘Can't go back': Court hearing begins over removal of slavery exhibit in Philly Independence Mall Jan 27 Shapiro takes legal action over removal of slavery exhibit at President's House Philadelphia Jan 28 Outcry intensifies after slavery exhibit removed from President's House Philadelphia Jan 22 Philly sues federal government after Independence Mall slavery exhibit removed National Park Service Oct 5, 2025 At America's national parks in the Trump era, the arc of history bends toward revisionism NBC10 was told that much of it was on a cement floor against a wall in an area that is not open or visible to the public. “I’m completely demoralized. I’m completely upset. Like I said from the outset, what I saw was the equivalent of taking historically expensive information and throwing it in Uncle Joe’s garage,” Michael Coard, of the Avenging the Ancestors Coalition, said. Lawyers for the Department of the Interior said that the city and NPS entered into an agreement in 2006. They agreed to meet and talk about any changes before they were made to the exhibit at 6th and Market streets. Those lawyers claim that the agreement ended in 2010 with full ownership transferred to the NPS after they finished the project. They said that they believe this case is about government speech and the right to select the view it wants to express itself. The city believes an original agreement in 1950 surrounding collaboration with NPS supersedes all of this. Judge Rufe ruled that the city of Philadelphia can file amended documents to their injunction by Friday, Feb. 6. If the city does submit amendments, then lawyers for the federal government have one week to respond. The Interior Department did not give us a new comment today but told NBC10 on Friday, Jan. 30 that any accusations about them trying to erase history are simply inaccurate. “Claims that the National Constitution Center possesses or is connected to the President’s House exhibits are false. The Center does not own, store, manage, curate, or control these exhibits and has no role in decisions related to the President’s House site. Any National Park Service storage space adjacent to the Center is operated solely by the National Park Service and entirely independent of the National Constitution Center. The Center does not oversee that space, and Center staff have no knowledge of what materials may be stored there,” VP of Communications Annie Stone wrote in a statement to NBC10 on Feb. 2. ...read more read less