‘A sanitized view of America’: inside Trump’s campaign to erase US history from national parks
Summary
The Trump administration changed how U.S. history is presented in national parks by removing or altering signs and displays about sensitive topics like slavery, Native American history, and climate change. This effort aimed to promote a version of history that leaves out uncomfortable facts and did so across many parks and historic sites.Key Facts
- Jerry Bransford’s ancestor, Materson Bransford, was an enslaved guide at Mammoth Cave, who became an expert on the cave system.
- National parks in the U.S. often tell stories about the country's history as well as nature.
- The Trump administration worked to change or remove signs and materials that included facts about slavery, Native American genocide, George Washington’s slave ownership, and climate change.
- This campaign affected many signs and displays in the National Park Service’s 433 parks, sites, and monuments.
- Critics say these changes erase the histories of groups who are not white, wealthy, Christian, or male.
- Some experts believe these changes will affect how history is shared in national parks for many years.
- The Department of the Interior did not respond to questions about the number or details of changes made.
- The Guardian reviewed thousands of images and documents and spoke to current and former park employees to report on these changes.
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