Center City East in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
History Lost & Found
| | The President's House | |
Clues from the Past
We may discover even more about the President's House and the people who lived here. Over time, research helps create a clearer picture of what happened at this site and what daily life was like in Philadelphia for those who lived and worked here.
Archeologists learn about the past by gathering and studying many kinds of information. Beyond excavating, they look at old documents such as letters, diaries, artwork, deeds, and census records that tell stories about people and places long ago. However, many written records from the early years of the United States are incomplete.
Thankfully, historic records connected to the President's House name everyone who lived there. Archeology helps fill in the missing details and brings us closer to understanding the lives and the people who lived and worked at this site.
[Captions:]
To the left is a page from the 1790 U.S. Census listing residents of Market Street in Philadelphia. The drawing of the house below is from 1794 and shows how the structure looked while it was still standing.
Rendering of President's House, 1794
Features from the President's House uncovered by archaeologists in 2007.
Below: Archeologists uncovered a well used prior to the Washington family taking up residence in the President's House. It was closed up shortly after his arrival.
Erected 2026
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Government & Politics • Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #01 George Washington series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1790.
Location. 39° 57.019′ N, 75° 9.001′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in Center City East. It is at the intersection of South 6th Street (County Road 2005) and Market Street (County Road 2004), on the left when traveling south on South 6th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 598 Market St, Philadelphia PA 19106, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Pennsylvania. It is also in the American Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, New Netherland, and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Presidents Washington and Adams on Slavery (here, next to this marker); Slavery in the British Colonies (here, next to this marker); Memorial (here, next to this marker); Ona Judge Seizes Her Freedom / Hercules Flees to Freedom (here, next to this marker); Enslaved People at the President's House (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named History Lost & Found (here, next to this marker); Independence Mall (a few steps from this marker); The President's House Site (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.
Other markers no longer nearby. " is hereby empowered to sieze such Fugitives" (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); "Freedom might be too great a temptation" (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named History Lost & Found (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named History Lost & Found (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Life Under Slavery (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed).
Credits. This page was last revised on July 30, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 28, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 4 times since then. Photo 1. submitted on July 28, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. A wide shot of the marker in context. • Can you help?
