The Trump administration has recently mandated that certain national parks and historic sites, notably the Amache site and the Sand Creek Massacre site in Colorado, display signs urging visitors to submit information that could be deemed as negative regarding American history.
These changes have sparked unease among park advocates and descendants of those who endured grievous injustices during World War II and the 1864 massacre.
The Amache site, which held Japanese Americans in internment camps during World War II, and the Sand Creek Massacre site, where U.S. soldiers killed a significant number of Southern Cheyenne and Arapaho, are now required to comply with the administration’s directive to portray a more favorable version of American history.
The signs, which include a QR code for collecting visitor feedback, appear to align with a broader trend of revising how history is communicated within national parks, potentially resulting in the sanitization of difficult narratives that are crucial to understanding the nation’s past.
President Donald Trump previously issued an executive order targeting what his administration describes as a ‘revisionist movement’ that seeks to highlight less flattering aspects of American heritage.
On May 20, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum followed up with directions insisting that land management agencies review historical properties for content deemed inappropriate, aiming to replace it with a narrative focusing on American achievements and positive progress.
Tracy Coppola, Colorado senior program manager for the National Parks Conservation Association, expressed that these efforts could threaten the integrity of park narratives.
“It poses a direct threat to the fundamental purpose of national parks,” she stated, emphasizing that park rangers traditionally strive to present well-rounded narratives of these significant locations.
Eric Leonard, superintendent of the High Plains Group encompassing the Amache and Sand Creek sites, confirmed via email that these sign postings are part of the orders titled ‘Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History’ and solicit opinions on both the historical interpretations and park services.
However, many historians and advocates worry this approach undermines years of collaborative efforts to accurately depict history, particularly at sites like Sand Creek, which heavily involves the input of tribal communities in their narrative construction.
Dawn DiPrince, president and CEO of History Colorado, argued for the importance of centering truth in historical narratives, noting that any dishonesty reaped from history could have detrimental effects on future generations’ understanding of their heritage.
The recent executive order from President Trump defines certain themes as ‘corrosive ideology’ propagated by previous administrations, directing the Department of the Interior to assess whether any historical markers or monuments have been altered since January 1, 2020, and demanding corrective actions where necessary.
It articulates a vision to restore federal landmarks into ‘solemn and uplifting public monuments’ that reflect America’s extraordinary accomplishments and progress towards a more perfect union.
Coppola pointedly remarked that if the administration seeks purely positive narratives, vital and often painful histories chronicled at national parks could be neglected.
The message emerges that parks are to be seen through a lens that only reflects victories rather than heartbreaks, leading to concerns about a politically influenced narrative.
A crucial aspect of this situation is the bipartisan support established in the designation of the Amache site as a National Historic Site — a collaboration between various political representatives emphasizing the commitment to preserving history regardless of political affiliations.
Seeing such a vital historical site now subjected to a potential rewriting of its narrative is disheartening for many advocates.
Mitch Homma, president of the Amache Alliance, voiced concerns regarding public misrepresentation of the site’s history and emphasized an unwavering commitment to factual interpretations.
He acknowledged the site’s painful past but also highlighted the ways Japanese Americans cultivated communities behind barbed wire, cultivating gardens and hosting events, illustrating the resilience of those incarcerated.
John Hopper, a longtime advocate and educator within the Granada School District, expressed disappointment at the new narrative direction taken by federal authorities, stating, ‘You can’t sugarcoat history. You have to learn from it.’
Hopper, now retiring, has observed changes in public perception and support for the Amache site over time, contrasting his hopes for its future under the National Park Service with the troubling implications of recent developments.
He articulated concerns that, due to the administration’s stance, such narratives could increasingly be driven out of federal oversight and potentially close important historical sites that convey critical chapters of American history.
Similarly, David Inoue, executive director of the Japanese American Citizens League, shared his concerns over the focus on diversity and inclusion being perceived as negative, indicating the administration’s potential targeting of sites like Amache, which highlight racial minorities.
Moreover, DiPrince pointed out alarming trends in budget proposals that indicate potential cuts amounting to $900 million from the National Park System operations, which could threaten the continuous presence of smaller sites like Amache and Sand Creek in federal care, eventually leading to their closure.
‘The importance of these sites transcends visitor numbers; they narrate vital histories that are fundamental to understanding our collective past,’ she said, expressing fears regarding any trend that could prioritize more traditional national parks at the expense of those representing marginalized histories.
In conclusion, the new initiatives announced by the Trump administration highlight a growing apprehension among advocates, descendants, and historians about the erosion of nuanced historical storytelling at important cultural heritage sites.
As the conversation around what constitutes the portrayal of American history continues, the hope remains that the essence of historical truth prevails amidst a narrative increasingly influenced by political agendas.
image source from：coloradosun
