The Ona Judge Coalition Debuts a Journey to Freedom Walking Tour

Philadelphia, July 23 – The Ona Judge Coalition (TOJC) is announcing two ways for the public to experience the story of Ona Judge: a new walking tour, Ona Judge’s Philadelphia: A Journey to Freedom Tour, developed in partnership with The Black Journey that carries Ona’s story into the streets, highlighting the landmarks where it actually took place, and an immersive video exhibition, “Who Is Ona Judge?” created in partnership with the African American Museum in Philadelphia (AAMP). Together, the two experiences give visitors a fuller picture of Ona Judge’s life, of the community that helped free her, and of Philadelphia’s complicated role as both the birthplace of American liberty and the site of the nation’s first presidential household, which held enslaved people.

Both the exhibit and the tour connect Ona’s courage and resistance to the social challenges that persist today, and to the broader effort to preserve her legacy at the President’s House Site — recently named to the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s 2026 list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places.

Ona Judge’s Philadelphia: A Journey to Freedom Tour

In partnership with The Black Journey, TOJC presents the Ona Judge’s Philadelphia: A Journey to Freedom Tour. The tour follows the remarkable journey of Ona Judge, the enslaved woman who escaped from George and Martha Washington’s household in Philadelphia and courageously claimed her freedom. This immersive walking tour uncovers the untold stories behind America’s birthplace of liberty.

“Ona Judge’s story challenges us to reconsider what freedom meant in the nation’s first capital,” said Raina Yancey, Founder of The Black Journey: A Black History Walking Tour of Philadelphia. “While Philadelphia is celebrated as the birthplace of liberty, it was also a place where enslaved people lived, labored, and fought for their freedom. This tour invites participants to walk in Ona Judge’s footsteps and explore the courage, resilience, and determination that led her to claim the freedom she was denied. By sharing her story, we hope to deepen public understanding of the people whose struggles helped expand the promise of liberty for future generations.”

Participants visit the sites where Ona Judge lived and worked, stand outside the President’s House, and explore historic landmarks including Congo Square, the Old London Coffee House, and Mother Bethel AME Church — each representing pivotal moments in African American history and the fight for freedom. Along the way, the tour reveals how enslaved and free African Americans challenged oppression, built thriving communities, and transformed the meaning of freedom. Pennsylvania’s gradual abolition laws, the Underground Railroad, the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793, and the people whose courage helped shape the nation are also highlighted.

“Who Is Ona Judge?” Immersive Video Exhibition at AAMP

On view in AAMP’s Founders Gallery, “Who Is Ona Judge?” uses three screens to bring Ona Judge’s story of bravery and determination to life for multi-generational visitors.

The exhibit highlights three distinct experiences. Screen one introduces visitors to Ona Judge and her story of bravery and determination. Screen two invites visitors to explore Ona’s flight to freedom and the ongoing quest to secure it. Screen three asks visitors to consider what Ona’s legacy means for us today.

Who Is Ona Judge?

Ona Judge was an enslaved woman who escaped the presidential household of George and Martha Washington in 1796. At just twenty-two years old, she fled from Philadelphia’s Arch Street wharf aboard the ship Nancy, aided by the city’s free Black community of sailors, dock workers, and networks of Black women. She spent the rest of her life free in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, despite the Washingtons’ relentless efforts to recapture her.

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The Ona Judge Coalition (TOJC) is committed to preserving the accurate and authentic history of slavery through immersive technology, scholarship, community engagement, public discussions, and permanent and virtual exhibitions. Learn more at whoisonajudge.org.