In light of Trump’s executive order aiming to alter “negative” portrayals of American history at federal sites, the New York Times recently reported Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park has raised concerns about exhibits featuring depictions of slavery.
According to internal documents reviewed by the New York Times, Independence National Historical Park staff submitted a concern about an exhibit that commemorated Washington’s nine slaves he brought from Mount Vernon, in which one feature portrayed “the intentional brutality of slaveholders, which included whippings, beatings, torture and rape.”
A submission comments reads, “The following panels and illustrations may need revision if found that they are inappropriately disparaging to historical figures…The artwork depicts Washington’s hands in the foreground; one with the Fugitive Slave Act, the other with a quill signing the Act, in the background a posse of white men are depicted with clubs and guns shooting at the four black men (one who has been shot in the head) presumably escaping from slavery.”
Similarly, park staff flagged a panel at the Liberty Bell which explained its travels across post-reconstruction America, commenting it “calls out the systemic and violent racism and sexism that existed at the time.”
Trump’s executive order directly targeted the park in its third paragraph, saying the Biden administration sponsored training that “advocates dismantling ‘Western foundations’” and “pressured National Historic park rangers that their racial identity should dictate how they convey history to visiting Americans because America is purportedly racist.”
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro weighed in on X.
“Protecting our history is about telling the truth, even when it is uncomfortable. Because if we don’t reckon with the reality of our past, we can’t learn from it and move forward,” wrote Shaprio. “The fight for freedom has defined the American story for centuries. Trying to rewrite that history is impossible — and it goes against the very values our nation stands for.”
The May 20th Secretarial Order aimed at Independence National Historical Park directed the Department of the Interior to determine whether sites such as public monuments and historical markers had been altered since 2020 to “perpetuate a false reconstruction of American history” and to ensure they don’t “contain descriptions, depictions, or other content that inappropriately disparage Americans past or living … and instead focus on the greatness of the achievements and progress of the American people.”
“Protecting our history is about telling the truth, even when it is uncomfortable. Because if we don’t reckon with the reality of our past, we can’t learn from it and move forward.” – Governor Josh Shapiro.
It also directed parks to add QR codes for feedback from the public on signs and media, and for park staff to review interpretive media by July 18 for language that also “inappropriately disparages Americans” or “content describing natural features, that emphasizes matters unrelated to the beauty, abundance, or grandeur of said natural feature.”
The Independence National Historical Park, across all park sites, has received less than 20 comments via the QR codes.
In an email, a representative from Independence National Historical Park said “each piece of public feedback is being manually reviewed and evaluated before being referred to the appropriate subject matter expert” and the “staff input related to the 7/18 deadline were employees entering information into the reporting tool as part of their official duties.”
The representative added, “Nothing is closed, nor has anything been taken down or altered.”
