Last-Minute Spruce-Up As President's House Opening Nears

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Archaeologists at the "President's House" site on Independence Mall have spent the week giving the site's historic remains one more cleanup before the attraction opens to the public on December 15th.

A huge glass box -- a "vitrene" -- is now at the center of the President's House Memorial Site where, if you looked down on Thursday, you could see archaeologists cleaning off the underground remains of the site that served as the official residence of presidents George Washington and John Adams.

Chief archaeologist Jed Levin says they are using shovels, whisks, and small brushes to clean off the protective dirt that has covered the foundation and other artifacts for years.

Levin says that video screens and exhibit panels will explain the site's historic remains as well as tell the stories of all of the occupants of the President's House.

"And what they'll actually see is a portion of the kitchen where Mr. Hercules, Washington's chef, would have worked, for instance, and also parts of the foundation for a bow window which, in some ways, you could say, is an inspiration for the Oval Office of today," Levin said.

Hear the entire interview in this CBS Philly podcast...

Once open, visitors will have 24-hour, seven-day-a-week access to the President's House memorial site, which has taken more than ten years to complete.

Reported by Karin Phillips, KYW Newsradio 1060.