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Wednesday, Jan 28, 2026
Outside the box.
U.S. National Park Service Ordered to Remove Signs on Native American History and Climate Change
Interior Department directive leads to removal or revision of interpretive and scientific displays at parks nationwide
The U.S. National Park Service has begun removing and revising a range of signage and interpretive materials across multiple national parks that reference Native American history, climate change impacts and related environmental issues under a directive from the Department of the Interior.
The action is part of implementation of an executive order aimed at reassessing materials deemed ‘‘negative’’ or ‘‘disparaging’’ of American history and redirecting interpretive content toward themes of national achievement and the beauty of landscapes.
Park units affected include sites such as Acadia National Park in Maine, Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, Zion National Park in Utah and Big Bend National Park in Texas, among others, where displays on topics including the retreat of glaciers, environmental change and stories of Indigenous peoples have been targeted for removal or revision.
Signs explaining scientific evidence of climate change and those that noted displacement or conflict involving Native American tribes have been taken down or are under review, according to advocacy groups tracking the changes.
The directive follows an executive order signed in 2025 that instructed the Department of the Interior and associated agencies to review interpretive materials at all federal historic sites and parks for content that ‘‘inappropriately disparages’’ Americans past or present.
As part of this process, park staff have removed climate science panels at Acadia, where large tripod signs that outlined rising temperatures, increased storm intensity and effects on rare plant species were stored offsite after being taken down.
In some locations, materials highlighting Indigenous connections to landscapes have also been flagged.
Officials from the National Parks Conservation Association and former park personnel have criticised the removals, arguing they undermine the educational mission of the park system and erase historical and scientific context that helps visitors understand natural and cultural heritage.
The association noted additional actions, including web pages documenting climate impacts at volcanoes and other sites, have been removed or renamed in compliance with the directive.
Those advocating for preservation of the original materials have also established independent archives to document at-risk signage and placards before they disappear from park grounds.
Park Service leadership has implemented changes in accordance with the interior directive but has not issued detailed public statements on the full list of materials affected or the timeline for the review process.
The evolving situation has drawn broader attention to how federal land agencies balance interpretive education, scientific information and administrative directives on public lands, particularly at a time of heightened political debate over the portrayal of history and environmental change.
The action is part of implementation of an executive order aimed at reassessing materials deemed ‘‘negative’’ or ‘‘disparaging’’ of American history and redirecting interpretive content toward themes of national achievement and the beauty of landscapes.
Park units affected include sites such as Acadia National Park in Maine, Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, Zion National Park in Utah and Big Bend National Park in Texas, among others, where displays on topics including the retreat of glaciers, environmental change and stories of Indigenous peoples have been targeted for removal or revision.
Signs explaining scientific evidence of climate change and those that noted displacement or conflict involving Native American tribes have been taken down or are under review, according to advocacy groups tracking the changes.
The directive follows an executive order signed in 2025 that instructed the Department of the Interior and associated agencies to review interpretive materials at all federal historic sites and parks for content that ‘‘inappropriately disparages’’ Americans past or present.
As part of this process, park staff have removed climate science panels at Acadia, where large tripod signs that outlined rising temperatures, increased storm intensity and effects on rare plant species were stored offsite after being taken down.
In some locations, materials highlighting Indigenous connections to landscapes have also been flagged.
Officials from the National Parks Conservation Association and former park personnel have criticised the removals, arguing they undermine the educational mission of the park system and erase historical and scientific context that helps visitors understand natural and cultural heritage.
The association noted additional actions, including web pages documenting climate impacts at volcanoes and other sites, have been removed or renamed in compliance with the directive.
Those advocating for preservation of the original materials have also established independent archives to document at-risk signage and placards before they disappear from park grounds.
Park Service leadership has implemented changes in accordance with the interior directive but has not issued detailed public statements on the full list of materials affected or the timeline for the review process.
The evolving situation has drawn broader attention to how federal land agencies balance interpretive education, scientific information and administrative directives on public lands, particularly at a time of heightened political debate over the portrayal of history and environmental change.
