Signs of the times: Removing stories of America's past from our national parks

CBS News
March 22, 2026
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3 min read

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The Bottom Line

Trump administration removed dozens of interpretive signs covering slavery, Indigenous history, and climate change from national parks.

How This Affects You

Visitors to national parks will encounter fewer historical narratives about race relations, Indigenous history, and women's history at taxpayer-funded sites.

AI Summary

The Trump administration's Department of the Interior has removed dozens of interpretive signs from national parks and historic sites following a presidential executive order targeting what officials describe as "divisive narratives" and "corrosive ideology." The removed signs covered topics including slavery, race relations, Indigenous history, women's history, and climate change—subjects that have long been part of how the National Park Service educates visitors about American history. Hundreds of additional signs, books, and pamphlets are now flagged for further review under the same directive. The removals represent a significant shift in how the federal government presents the nation's past at public historical sites, effectively narrowing the scope of educational content about contested chapters of American history. The decision raises questions about how government agencies balance historical accuracy with competing narratives about what stories should be told at taxpayer-funded monuments and parks.

What's Being Done

The Department of the Interior removed signs following a presidential executive order and is flagging hundreds more for review.

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