Join the Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides (APT) and historian and APT member Charlene Mires for a tour of the President’s House site on Wednesday, August 13 from 5-6 pm (preceding the monthly APT meeting at Philly’s Gourmet Steaks). Given the recent presidential directive to review anything in national parks that can be construed as ‘disparaging’ to the U.S. and its founders, particularly slavery, it is crucial that APT members understand the significance of this memorial and all it represents to be able to pass that knowledge on and keep the history alive.

The President’s House site is not only an important historic place and outdoor exhibit – but  also a monument to contemporary civic activism and social justice. Learn more about the background of this unique memorial while exploring the site with Charlene, who served on the City of Philadelphia Oversight Committee for the President’s House/Slavery Commemoration Project from 2005 until the site’s dedication in 2010. During this tour and discussion, you will discover why the site’s various elements exist, gain insight into often-overlooked features, and envision ways to engage visitors with the powerful story of freedom and enslavement during Philadelphia’s decade as the nation’s capital.

Charlene Mires is a historian, certified tour guide, and author of the book Independence Hall in American Memory. She is one of the founding editors of The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia, based at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Center for the Humanities (MARCH) at Rutgers University-Camden.

We’ll meet at the site on the corner of 6th and Market Streets. There is no charge for the tour but please register with APT Vice President Mike Teti vicepresident@phillyguides.org. It’s an important opportunity – be sure to join us!