President’s House

Once the grandest home in Philadelphia, the President’s House witnessed a pivotal era in American history. The President’s House, a mansion at 6th and Market Streets, served as the executive mansion for Presidents George Washington and John Adams while the nation’s capital was under construction. Built in 1767 by Mary Lawrence Masters, it later became a wedding gift for her daughter Polly, who married Richard Penn, the acting governor. The President’s House hosted delegates to the First Continental Congress, including George Washington himself. During the British occupation of Philadelphia, the President’s House served as headquarters for General Sir William Howe. After the British left, it became the headquarters of Major General Benedict Arnold. Arnold lived lavishly at the President’s House, but his extravagant lifestyle and questionable dealings led to his resignation. Following a fire in 1780, Robert Morris purchased and rebuilt the President’s House, adding modern conveniences like an icehouse. It was here that Washington lived from 1790 to 1797, expanding the house to accommodate his family, staff, and enslaved servants. Washington’s additions included a two-story bow window, where he would stand for official occasions, a precursor to the Oval Office. This bow made the rear rooms of the first and second floor 34 feet long. The President’s House was a bustling center of activity. Washington held levees, state dinners, and Mrs. Washington hosted receptions. Nine enslaved Africans, including Oney Judge and Hercules, worked at the President’s House, a stark contrast to the ideals of freedom being forged so nearby. Washington rotated these individuals out of Pennsylvania to circumvent its gradual emancipation laws. John Adams occupied the President’s House from 1797 to 1800, before becoming the first president to occupy the White House. The President’s House was later converted into a hotel, and portions of it survived until the mid-20th century, when they were demolished due to confusion about the building’s history. Today, the site of the President’s House is a memorial, a place to reflect on the complex legacy of freedom and slavery in the early years of the United States.