Center City East in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

History Lost & Found

— The President's House —

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 25, 2026

1. History Lost & Found Marker

Inscription.

History Lost and Found. . , Archeology , Archeology is the study of the past through the material remains of everyday objects that people lost or discarded in the places they inhabited and the spaces through which they moved. Wherever people live or work or play, they leave some physical trace, such as a sewing needle that falls through a gap in the floorboards, or a broken dish tossed down an abandoned well. Through excavation and the analysis of recovered artifacts, we can often learn about the lives of people of the past., Excavation , The archeological explorations at the President's House Site took place between March 12 and August 31, 2007. Nearly 19,000 artifacts were uncovered. Mnay of these objects were associated with later occupants of the site. The home occupied by Presidents Washington and Adams from 1790-1800 fell into disrepair and was demolished in 1832. Four commercial buildings were constructed on the site. In 1952 these structures were demolished to make way for the development of Independence Mall., Unearthed , During the excavation of this site, no objects belonging directly to the presidents were found. The ceramic artifacts pictured were found here by archeologists, and were manufactured during the time the presdients were in residence in Philadelphia. They are similar to items they would have used in their homes., [Captions:] , This porcelain dish was made in China in the late 1700s. It features a dragon chasing a pearl, a pular motif rooted in ancient Chinese mythology., This Chinese Porcelain cup is decorated in the "Nanking" pattern, which became popular in the late 1770s and remained so for the next fifty years., This Philadelphia red earthenware jar was found intact in a water well that was most likely dug prior to George Washington taking up residence at the property in 1790. It went out of use shortly after his arrival., The well was reopened around the time the President's House House was demolished in 1832. Archaeologists believe this jar was discarded in the well at that time along with numerous other objects.

Archeology
Archeology is the study of the past through the material remains of everyday objects that people lost or discarded in the places they inhabited and the spaces through which they moved. Wherever people live or work or play, they leave some physical trace, such as a sewing needle that falls through a gap in the floorboards, or a broken dish tossed down an abandoned well. Through excavation and the analysis of recovered artifacts, we can often learn about the lives of people of the past.

Excavation
The archeological explorations at the President's House Site took place between March 12 and August 31, 2007. Nearly 19,000 artifacts were uncovered. Mnay of these objects were associated with later occupants of the site. The home occupied by Presidents Washington and Adams from 1790-1800 fell into disrepair and was demolished in 1832. Four commercial buildings were constructed on the site. In 1952 these structures were demolished to make way for the development of Independence Mall.

Unearthed
During the excavation of this site, no objects belonging directly to the presidents were found. The ceramic artifacts

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pictured were found here by archeologists, and were manufactured during the time the presdients were in residence in Philadelphia. They are similar to items they would have used in their homes.

[Captions:]
This porcelain dish was made in China in the late 1700s. It features a dragon chasing a pearl, a pular motif rooted in ancient Chinese mythology.

This Chinese Porcelain cup is decorated in the "Nanking" pattern, which became popular in the late 1770s and remained so for the next fifty years.

This Philadelphia red earthenware jar was found intact in a water well that was most likely dug prior to George Washington taking up residence at the property in 1790. It went out of use shortly after his arrival.

The well was reopened around the time the President's House House was demolished in 1832. Archaeologists believe this jar was discarded in the well at that time along with numerous other objects.

Erected 2026 by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Government & Politics • Notable Buildings.

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In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #01 George Washington, and the Former U.S. Presidents: #02 John Adams series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is March 12, 2007.

Location. 39° 57.022′ N, 75° 9′ 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: Independence Mall (here, next to this marker); Enslaved People at the President's House (here, next to this marker); Slavery in the British Colonies (here, next to this marker); Presidents Washington and Adams on Slavery (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named History Lost & Found (here, next to this marker); Memorial (here, next to this marker); Ona Judge Seizes Her Freedom / Hercules Flees to Freedom (a few steps from this marker); The President's House (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); "I and my household" (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named History Lost & Found (has been replaced with this marker); Washington's Death and a Renewed Hope for Freedom (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); "Freedom might be too great a temptation" (was a few steps from 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).

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 6 times since then. Photo 1. submitted on July 28, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.

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