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Volunteers across the United States are working to preserve historical information displayed in national parks and historic sites, concerned about potential removal by the Trump administration. The initiative, called Save Our Signs, was launched by librarians at the University of Minnesota and aims to document signage across more than 400 national parks and historic sites nationwide before any materials are taken down.
The project emerged after the Trump administration began removing government datasets and webpages containing references to topics including gender ideology, environmental justice, and diversity initiatives. When the administration subsequently instructed National Park Service rangers to identify and remove signs related to slavery, Indigenous history, and climate change, project leaders recognized the need to preserve this publicly funded historical content.
Since its July launch, Save Our Signs has attracted hundreds of volunteers who have submitted thousands of photographs to create a digital archive. As of early August, the project had compiled over 17,000 images representing nearly every national park and historic site in the country. Participants cite both a desire to preserve historical records and a need to take action during a period of significant concern about how American history is presented to the public.
Among the most active contributors is Charlene Forsythe, who has submitted more than 2,000 photos from visits to 53 different parks with her mother. The volunteers describe the effort as meaningful engagement that allows them to document and protect historical narratives they believe warrant preservation.
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Originally reported by Theguardian →
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