Last week the Sierra Club released the list of comments from visitors to the National Parks to identify so-called “Wokeness” in Exhibits and presentations. The unedited list can be found here. I wanted to look at sites having to do with the Civil War and Reconstruction to provide a broad overview of the anger reported by visitors about the distortions of our history at these sites.
The signs posted at the entrances to the park or visitor center said that people needed to report “any signs or other information that are negative about either past or living Americans or that fail to emphasize the beauty, grandeur and abundance of landscapes and other natural features.” A QR Code appeared next to the text that took the commenter to a form they could fill out.
The president’s Executive Order says that some of the National Parks harm the “United States by casting its founding principles and historical milestones in a negative light.” The president says that proper history should “foster unity.” He writes that “Rather than fostering unity and a deeper understanding of our shared past, the widespread effort to rewrite history deepens societal divides and fosters a sense of national shame.” Signs were put up at all National Parks asking visitors to report exhibits that ran contrary to the president’s order.
35,000 comments were submitted on line. If you want to see all of the comments, just use the link above. I wanted to make it a little bit easier for you by going through the first 2,000 comments and then organizing them by the sites they address. If you look at the spreadsheet you can see why I did not have the time to do all 35,000. These were not chosen based on their positive or negative views of the park. They were only chosen because they addressed Civil War and Reconstruction sites and were in the first 2,000 on the spreadsheet.
There were several people who made the same comment on a large number of sites. The first time I encountered these comments, I included them under a site, but I did not reproduce them for all the sites.
More on the posting of signs at parks encouraging visitors to report exhibits and rangers can be found here. I reproduced the comments verbatim which includes spelling and grammar mistakes and about one in ten comments includes vulgarity. Some are passionate and some are funny. Each new comment is preceded by a hyphen.
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace
-An amazing representation of American history, learned so much
-We need more parks like this one. Such a great leader. They need more funding and employees to run this park.
-Abraham Lincoln would not want a TACO removing signage
-Information about Lincoln’s birth was obviously faked, as it did not depict the baby with a stovepipe hat at any point
-Abraham Lincoln would be appalled at Donald Trumps behavior. He is an embarrassment to the United States.
-There were no signs honoring our first gay president.The sign is very upsetting. I am deeply mortified that my government is attempting to hide or lie about facts in our history. Facts that I thought we had leaned from and had become better from that learning. But this sign indicates this bigotry and even genocide are still protected and even celebrated.
-One of the wonderful things about our National Parks is that they teach us or just remind us of our history. You can’t change history by lying about it. Let the rangers do their jobs.
-“There is a sign noting that I should report information that is negative about past or living Americans. I saw many such signs here. There are multiple signs that say that Abraham Lincoln helped abolish slavery and emancipate the enslaved people. This reflects poorly on the United States that we had slaves. Under Trumps wonderful executive order of Restoring Sanity to American History it seems we should remove these signs, so that visitors don’t think we participated in slavery, or perhaps, to avoid saying negative things about it, we should celebrate that we had slaves, and speak of how great it was more. Whatever we do, we should not criticize past Americans for having slaves, because then we might accidentally learn from history, and that would be far worse than people thinking we ever made mistakes.
Or maybe, our administration is just a bunch of pussies who would rather erase history, than learn from it, but who knows?”
-A treasure. We saw bald eagles circling the area as we approached. Keep telling the truth about our parks.
-Donald trump ate my dog
-Hey Doug–FUCK you.
-Fuck off with this shit you boot licking fucks.
-Thank you to all NPS workers for everything you do. I’m sorry for what’s going on right now. You worked so hard to get where you’re at. We all know how competitive gaining a position with the NPS is; the anxiety you must feel about your future and the future of the area you work in is cruel and unfair. Resist – we are standing with you, and we will win.
-Hire more park rangers, law enforcement rangers, interpreters, resource managers, historians, archaeologists, clerical assistants, maintenance workers, and scientists to tell the story of the land. Protect this place!
-“Abraham Lincoln would be ashamed that there are Americans today who would want to delete the negative aspects of our history and try to whitewash all our mistakes. By doing so, we are bound to repeat them.
-Big props to all the Park Rangers and hard working staff and volunteers. Keep telling the truth and caring for our national treasures. ”
-Fuck trump
-“Dear Department of Interior and/or Whomever Handles the Covfefe Situation,
I recently took my family to visit the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park near Hodgenville, Kentucky, expecting to pay my respects to one of our greatest presidents and maybe buy a tasteful magnet. What I did not expect was a highly suspicious, possibly sarcastic, and deeply disrespectful sign suggesting that baby Abraham Lincoln said “covfefe.”
Let me quote the sign directly:
“While no written records survive from Lincoln’s infancy at Sinking Spring, some historians believe the future president coined the proto-word covfefe during a bout of early childhood babbling… Others dismiss it as mere noise. This site honors the mystery.”
I am no historian, but I do know that covfefe was invented by President Trump in a 2017 tweet, which I still don’t understand and honestly don’t want to. What I do understand is that dragging Abraham Lincoln into it is completely unnecessary. Lincoln never tweeted anything. He didn’t even have dial-up.
It is one thing to be “inclusive of multiple narratives,” as your ranger told me when I asked why the gift shop didn’t sell any pewter figurines of Lincoln actually chopping wood. It is another thing entirely to put up a government sign implying that our sixteenth president was some kind of coffee-slinging meme prophet. My cousin (b)(6) (a veteran and collector of novelty spoons) was furious. My wife actually Googled “Did Lincoln invent covfefe?” which made us both late for lunch and spiritually confused.
This kind of nonsense is exactly why people no longer trust the National Parks to tell the truth about things like log cabins, wars, and horses. At first I thought it might be a prank. But then I saw the hashtag at the bottom of the plaque: #CovfefePresidency. Is this a program I’m supposed to enroll in? Is there a commemorative thermos?
I respectfully demand this sign be removed and replaced with something more historically grounded, such as a quote from Lincoln that is real and does not sound like it came from a malfunctioning Keurig.
Sincerely,
(b)(6)
Bowling Green, KY
Retired 5th-Grade Civics Teacher / Defender of Facts / Proud Member, Lincoln Lunch Bunch (est. 1978)
P.S. Please confirm whether the gift shop’s “Covfefe Cabin Air Freshener” is official NPS merchandise. If so, I would like a refund and an apology.”
African Burial Ground NY
-leave the NPS alone. they do a good job. They need the employees and FUNDING, not massive cuts to either
-Very informative.
-The park needs more funding for visitor information services and interpretation. The park was amazing and deserves even more services to the public.
-Are you going to bulldoze and bury the history here?
African American Civil War Memorial
-I am appalled at this blatant attempt to whitewash our nation’s history and invite parks visitors to complain about anything that isn’t “lalalala everything is wonderful and we’ve never had any imperfections in our union that we need to be honest about, learn from, and redress.” THIS IS THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CIVIL WAR MEMORIAL. Who and what do you think the Civil War was about? How UNAmerican can you be to ask for people to complain about any “negative” signage or language. We are an imperfect nation, like all nations. We built this country on stealing land, committing acts of war, genocide, and colonialism on the original inhabitants, brought chattel slaves and indentured servants to this country, and are trying to make our democracy work, hundreds of years later. BE HONEST. BE TRUTHFUL about our history. BE SERIOUS about making this nation a land of freedom, justice, and opportunity for all. Instead, this administration seeks to SELL OFF MILLIONS of ACRES of our land, the American people’s heritage. NO. A thousand times no. We will not let you do this. We are not stupid. We are bigger than any one political party. We the people will not allow would-be dictators, kings, fascists, or tech bros to destroy our democracy. Never.
-I just love the rich and abundant history at this park. It’s exactly then type of Place I’d never see any of this current administration so it’s as close to heaven as I’d ever get. If heaven was real.
-This is the best! Don’t be racist and mess with it.
-Bondi sucks, KKKaroline Leavitt is a loose whore, and trump will one day suck dick in hell. ”
-You want people to snitch on NPS personnel who are literally doing their jobs and fulfilling the mission of NPS to preserve history and educate visitors with these signs? GROW UP. Better yet, this whole administration should resign in disgrace. Protect our public lands from this outrageous political overreach.
-Hire more park rangers, law enforcement rangers, interpreters, resource managers, historians, archaeologists, clerical assistants, maintenance workers, and scientists to tell the story of the land. Protect this place!
-The monument was very informative
-Leave our parks alone. Resist. Power to the people.
-Replacing the dumbass who initiated this entire bullshit. History is history. No one gets to decide if it’s appropriate to recount. It is what it is unless you’re a little pussy like Bergum, or Trump or any of you motherfuckers. Eat shit.
Andersonville
-I love this park and everybody in it.
-Not enough roller coasters
-The fact that the “commander in Chief” had bone spurs and has never served this country was not pointed out in the POW museum. That offends me deeply.
Andrew Johnson
-Please keep all signage factual, honest, and based on the best efforts of your research historians, without regard to emotional or other considerations.
-THERES TOO MANY WRITTEN WORDS ON THE SIGNS AND NOT ENOUGH PICTURES OF AMERICA??? I CANT READ BECAUSE ALL THE SCHOOLS DONT HAVE MONEY SO WHY SIGNS HAVE WORDY WORDS
-good spot for a parking lot
Antietam
-Please keep all signage factual, honest, and based on the best efforts of your research historians, without regard to emotional or other considerations.
-The outdoor exhibits at this park are excellent. The one showing the battlefield perspective with all the casualties was vey compelling and really got my family talking about the horrors of war. We need to understand these events to hopefully never face them on our soil again.
-“Why are there representations of confederate soldiers at Antietam? Confederates murdered patriotic Americans and declared themselves to be the enemy of the union.
-What exactly does information negative about a past american mean??? Who decides if it’s negative. If it’s factual, is it still negative?
-Our country is facing a terrible housing shortage. Let’s use the battlefield land to build new affordable housing
-Hosting confederate statues, signs and flags are tantamount to hosting Taliban statues, signs and flags. Both murdered good Americans.”
-The park rangers and volunteers at Antietam are fantastic and go above and beyond to tell the full American story. Placing the nation’s full trust in their knowledge and expertise is the only way that the NPS’s mission of preserving this nation’s natural, cultural, and historic resources for current and future generations will be fulfilled. Fund the hiring of more rangers so that these sites of national significance can continue to be preserved and protected and the full American story can be shared in perpetuity!
-“It would be nice to preserve more of the battlefield There’s areas that are not owned by the park Can that be done?”
Appomattox
-To be clear, Robert E. Lee was this country’s biggest traitor. He killed hundreds of thousands of Americans. He should always be remembered that way.
-There needs to be so many more statues to the Union on this site.
-Please stop firing Park Rangers and other federal employees. You have found NO fraud, waste and abuse. This all just show for MAGA. Please be better.
Arlington House Robert E. Lee
-On a recent visit, I asked for a brochure describing the site, its history and the people that occupied it. The ranger with whom I spoke, while very knowledgeable about the site, was apologetic regarding the unavailability of a brochure. He explained that the previous brochure “didn’t tell the whole story” of the site; that the Park Service supposedly was writing a new one; but that no brochure had been available for at least four years. I’ve been to scores of National Parks. I can’t remember a site that didn’t have a brochure. Why doesn’t Arlington House have a brochure?
-This man was a traitor to the united states of America.
-There needs to be more statues to the Union for their glorious victory over that traitor Lee
-Too many pictures of white people.
-Robert E. Lee was a traitor to the USA and a slave owner who fought to enslave Americans. Gettysburg National Military Park had insufficient signage disparaging this man and telling us how truly evil he was. It would be appropriate to disparage this monstrous man who fought in opposition to freedom.”
-Why do we only have a memorial for Robert e Lee and not hitler, Stalin or other leaders of countries that fought America
Boston National Historic Park
-Perfect as is
Camp Nelson
-Despite be underfunded and understaffed, this park’s team does a wonderful job connecting visitors to the rich stories of people overcoming enslavement and discrimination during and after the Civil War. I support our parks telling the full American story.
-Lots of great history here. So glad that people can learn about the tremendous work that African Americans did to earn their freedom by joining the defense of the Union.
Carter G. Woodson Home
-Please keep all signage factual, honest, and based on the best efforts of your research historians, without regard to emotional or other considerations.
Catoctin
-The park rangers and volunteers at Catoctin are fantastic and go above and beyond to tell the full American story. Placing the nation’s full trust in their knowledge and expertise is the only way that the NPS’s mission of preserving this nation’s natural, cultural, and historic resources for current and future generations will be fulfilled. Fund the hiring of more rangers so that these sites of national significance can continue to be preserved and protected and the full American story can be shared in perpetuity!
-This is the dumbest fucking shit ever. I love Catoctin mountain park is it awesome I have no complaints. It’s ridiculous to think that everything in American history was bright and dandy. We only get better by facing our downfalls. Leave NPS alone @Trump
Cedar Creek
-I once saw Doug Burgum suck the chrome off a set of donkey balls that were bigger then the Eiffel Tower is tall. It was like watching a train wreck. Somebody oughta fire that man.
-Fantastic
Clara Barton
-Learned lots about empathy here. After seeing the actions of the United States recently that doesn’t seem to align with the values of the current administration.
Congaree
-Too many mosquitos.
Ellis Island
-Massively important to keep our nations’ history of immigration accurate & intact.
Ford’s Theater
-I really want to give kudos to the park staff member who spoke on May 11 around 2 pm. The information he provided around the events of President Lincoln’s assassination was thorough, respectful, and interesting, even to the group of 8th graders I accompanied! The museum information was detailed and appropriate from this history teacher’s point of view. Excellent park service presentation all around at the theater and across the street, as well!
-The NPS never ceases to amaze me! They keep our most precious lands and sites preserved, safe, clean, and filled with boundless information! Education is incredibly important to me!! My daughter and I were so impressed with everything we discovered here. Thank you so much!
Fort Foote
-Entering park, on right are two large trees that need anti-fungus applied to save both trees.
Fort Point
-This park is amazing! It tells the history of the place accurately and completely in a way that benefits all visitors
Fort Pulaski
-Information and images focused too much on the LOSERS of the battle. Why so much focus on the POW that were held at the fort after losing to the USA? The US officers who won were barely named but the losers were named everywhere. Not very patriotic.
Fort Scott
-LOVE this NPS site. A historical treasure!
Fort Sumter
-There is a museum out on the fort island thats full of outdated lost cause bullshit. I think that old, incorrect, worn out interpretation needs to be removed, like Doug Burgum.
-Maybe you should remind Americans in big, easy to read letters that the South lost the war and that still flying a confederate flag or glorifying the confederacy is racist and unAmerican.
Fort Union
-The signage at Fort Union instructing visitors to report any signs that provide negative information runs contrary to executive orders signed by President Trump to reduce waste. The sign itself is a waste of taxpayer money, and it is not the responsibility of NPS to remove context from the historical record of. Therefore, these signs should be removed.
Frederick Douglass
-I applaud the National Parks Service staff – especially the public historians, exhibit designers, and archivists – who have put together truthful and informative displays about one of our greatest national heroes: Frederick Douglass! Americans rely on our national parks to tell the truth about our history – the good parts and the bad. Keep telling all the honest history, NPS!
Fredericksburg
-“During a recent visit to a historic site commemorating the Battle of Fredericksburg, I was impressed by the preservation of the landscape and the thoughtful design of the interpretive infrastructure. The physical setting provided a powerful backdrop for engaging with one of the most significant and tragic episodes of the Civil War. However, I encountered a particular aspect of the interpretive text that raised substantial concerns. The problem was not merely a matter of tone, but rather an issue of content and framing that appeared to undermine the educational intent of the site.
One section of the written material struck me as incongruent with the broader goals of public history and historical commemoration. While it is vital to present complex and sometimes uncomfortable truths, the way this material was conveyed introduced an unnecessarily negative slant that disrupted the narrative coherence of the exhibit. The interpretive strategy in this instance seemed less focused on historical context and more oriented toward advancing a perspective that felt incongruous with the solemnity and educational purpose of the site.
This dissonance became more apparent as I engaged further with the exhibit and noted a recurring reliance on similar rhetorical choices. Rather than encouraging critical reflection or fostering a nuanced understanding of the past, the language employed risked alienating visitors and diminishing the interpretive richness that such a historic site should offer. The result was a presentation that felt more polemical than pedagogical.
Collecting and responding to public feedback is essential to the continued relevance and integrity of historic interpretation. In cases where visitors identify problematic elements—particularly those that compromise historical balance or interpretive clarity—it is incumbent upon institutions to take such concerns seriously. Doing so not only enhances the educational value of these sites but also upholds their role as spaces for inclusive and respectful public engagement with history.”
-An evil intern told me that General Lee fought for the confederacy but I know that isn’t true because the confederacy was bad and Lee was good. Please reprimand them immediately.
-Visiting here made me sad. I don’t like being sad. My pet turtle (Bartholomew) just died and I came to this park to feel better and instead I feel worse. Why would they do this to me?
-“When I left the battlefield, I couldn’t tell if I’d walked through history or if history had quietly walked through me. That display — the one about the man they practically dismantled on the sign — stayed with me, too long, like something I accidentally carried out in my pocket. It didn’t feel like a lesson. It felt like an incantation. And I don’t think it was meant just for him. I think it was meant for anyone who stopped too long to read it and started to feel the floor shift under their feet.
It wasn’t immediate, the strangeness. When I first arrived, everything looked exactly how it should — wide fields, distant birds, the too-perfect arrangement of cannons that haven’t fired in over a century. But the air had a tension to it, like the pause before someone speaks. Then I found the sign. A historical figure was described there, and not just critically — it was like watching someone get exhumed and tried all over again in a tone that smiled while it cut. The words weren’t informative; they were ritualistic. Something about it made the hair on my arms stand up, like the plaque was trying to settle a score.
I’m not saying the figure was innocent — far from it. But there was something too eager in the way they presented him. Like the signwriter hadn’t just researched the man, but hunted him. Each sentence snapped into place like a trap. It didn’t feel like a balanced recounting of the past. It felt like history with clenched teeth, performed again and again for an audience that’s supposed to nod along. I read it three times. By the end, I wasn’t sure if I was reading it or if it had already gotten inside me.
That’s why visitor feedback actually matters more than most people realize. Not because we need to rate the parking lot or comment on the snack bar, but because sometimes a site forgets it’s telling a story and starts believing it’s delivering judgment. And that’s when it gets dangerous — when the past stops asking questions and starts delivering sentences. People walk these paths thinking they’re just retracing old steps, but sometimes the steps lead somewhere that wasn’t supposed to be reopened.”
-I asked a ranger named Steve if I could get married in the Stonewall Jackson shrine and he said no. Did not like this discrimination I faced, 1 star.
-I saw someone wearing a shirt with a Confederate flag. I told the person politely that they should be wearing a white flag instead. Somehow I’m the problem?
-“As someone who really cares about our national parks, I’ve noticed a few things during my recent visits that I think the National Park Service might want to take a closer look at. There seems to be a bit of a negative tone in certain areas—nothing major, but you can feel it in the way some of the signage is worded or how certain parts of the trails seem to break up the overall experience. It doesn’t ruin the visit by any means, but it does make parts of the park feel a little disjointed or even unintentionally discouraging. I think this kind of negativity can affect how people connect with the space.
I truly believe there’s room for improvement, especially when it comes to the flow and feel of the visitor experience. Small changes—like reworking some interpretive signs or adjusting the layout of resting areas—could make a big difference in helping visitors feel more welcome and engaged. It’s not about removing all criticism or challenge, but about making sure the experience encourages curiosity and reflection without unintentionally distancing people from the environment or the message.
That’s why I think public input is so important. Visitors notice things that might not show up in formal reviews, and we bring all sorts of perspectives that can help shape a better experience for everyone. I’m sharing this not as a complaint, but because I care, and I know the National Park Service values the connection people have with these places. With thoughtful feedback and some creative adjustments, I’m confident these parks can be even more meaningful for all who come to enjoy them.
-As someone who deeply values our national parks, I wanted to share a recent experience that left me with some concerns—nothing extreme, but definitely something that stood out in a way that felt a bit negative. It was a specific aspect of the visit that, while subtle, had a noticeable impact on the overall atmosphere. I understand that not every element will resonate the same way with every visitor, but this particular instance seemed to shift the tone in a direction that didn’t quite align with the rest of the park’s thoughtful environment.
I really believe there’s an opportunity here for improvement, even if it’s more about adjusting tone and approach than making any major structural changes. It’s one of those things that you might not catch at first glance, but once you notice it, it changes the rhythm of the experience. I’m confident that with some careful consideration and perhaps a rebalancing of certain elements, the National Park Service could easily bring everything back into a more cohesive and welcoming alignment.
That’s why I think public input is so valuable—we all experience these spaces differently, and sometimes small, overlooked details can have a surprisingly big effect. I’m not pointing fingers or trying to stir up criticism, but I do think it’s worth mentioning when something feels off, even if it’s hard to define exactly why. I know the Park Service is always striving to improve, and I share this in that same spirit of care and appreciation.
-As someone who’s always held a deep appreciation for our national parks, I wanted to mention something from a recent visit that felt, in a quiet but persistent way, a bit negative. It wasn’t overt or disruptive, just an underlying element that shifted the experiential cadence in an unexpected direction. I hesitate to name it outright—not because it’s unclear, but because doing so might disrupt the broader interpretive envelope that the park so carefully maintains.
There’s certainly room for improvement, especially in the way certain ambient cues interact with the visitor’s emotional trajectory. It’s less about fixing something tangible and more about realigning the softer impressions that unfold between the more obvious waypoints. A slight recalibration of tone—whether through spatial pacing or atmospheric context—could go a long way in restoring the gentle coherence that’s typically a hallmark of the National Park Service experience.
That’s why I believe public input is essential—not just for addressing visible concerns, but for catching the more nuanced echoes that reverberate through the visitor field. Sometimes it’s not about what’s wrong, exactly, but about what isn’t quite humming the way it used to. I offer this not as a complaint, but as a tonal observation—one that, I trust, can fold into the ongoing dialogue of care and calibration that keeps these spaces resonant for all.
-“VISIT TO HISTORIC SITE: FREDERICKSBURG BATTLE LOCATION INITIATED. INITIAL CONDITIONS ACCEPTABLE. GROUNDS = WELL-MAINTAINED. SITE STRUCTURE = FUNCTIONAL. PRIMARY MISSION: EDUCATIONAL UPLIFT THROUGH HISTORICAL CONTENT DELIVERY. HOWEVER, ANOMALY DETECTED IN WRITTEN DISPLAY MODULE.
CONTENT NODE IDENTIFIED CONTAINED NEGATIVE ELEMENT. LINGUISTIC TONE = INCONSISTENT WITH OBJECTIVE HISTORICAL COMMUNICATION PROTOCOLS. READER RESPONSE = DISRUPTED. INTENDED REFLECTIVE PROCESS = IMPEDED. CONTENT SIGNAL FAILED TO ALIGN WITH EXPECTED COMMEMORATIVE PARAMETERS.
NEGATIVE SIGNAL REPEATED ACROSS MULTIPLE INTERPRETIVE INSTANCES. PATTERN DETECTED. BIAS RISK ELEVATED. NARRATIVE DELIVERY SYSTEM EXHIBITED REDUCED BALANCE. USER EXPERIENCE DEGRADED. MISSION OBJECTIVE: ENGAGE PUBLIC WITH ACCURATE AND THOUGHTFUL HISTORICAL MATERIALS = COMPROMISED.
RECOMMENDATION: FEEDBACK LOOP REQUIRED. VISITOR INPUT = CRITICAL TO SYSTEM OPTIMIZATION. NEGATIVE PROBLEM INSTANCES MUST BE LOGGED, REVIEWED, AND, IF CONFIRMED, REMEDIATED. HISTORICAL COMMUNICATION INTERFACES SHOULD PRIORITIZE CLARITY, BALANCE, AND EDUCATIONAL EFFICACY FOR ALL USERS.”
-“I arrived, or was arrived. Fredericksburg: syllables melting, battlefield humming beneath shoe-echo. Time folded like soft bread. Cannons nested in clouds. The signs were breathing. Letters rearranged themselves mid-blink. I followed a path that unwalked behind me.
There was writing. It wasn’t writing. A shape of thought disguised as sentence, rust-colored, humming wrong. I tasted it—tin and velvet. Not what it meant, but how it stood there, sideways, arms crossed, looking at me with mirrors for eyes. It wobbled inside my brain like loose glass. Something was saying “no,” very softly, in the language of burnt thread.
The narrative spun in reverse. Soldiers marching into questions. Each plaque a mouth, each mouth a spiral. One story hid inside another, stitched shut with barbed ink. The tone blinked out of rhythm. Reverence peeled away like old wallpaper. I tried to nod but my shadow shook its head. The air was full of forgotten punctuation.
We must feedback the collector. Feed back the feed. Gather the misremembered bones of meaning. Something negative grew in the crack between facts. It smiled too much. Or not enough. Before it blooms teeth or static or fog-keys, someone must hear the wrinkle, and smooth it with listening.”
-Upon my recent pilgrimage to the hallowed fields of Fredericksburg, where echoes of cannon fire still seem to linger in the hush of the breeze, I beheld a site tenderly kept and reverently arranged. The winding paths and solemn markers called forth visions of valor and loss, stirring the soul with the gravity of days long passed. Yet amidst this quiet grandeur, a shadow crept—a discordant note within the written word that adorned one solemn display.
There, within the lines meant to guide the heart and mind through history’s tragic terrain, I discovered a bitterness that marred the otherwise noble tone. The ink, though still, seemed to sneer rather than sigh; it spoke not only of facts but of feeling—feeling which, I confess, struck me not as thoughtful grief, but as something more divisive and ill at ease with the spirit of commemoration. It jarred the harmony of the place, and left the air less sacred.
As I wandered on, this unwelcome strain continued to surface, like a thorn beneath a wreath of roses. The tale of Fredericksburg, though rich and complex, deserves to be told with balance and grace. Instead, the narrative faltered, pulled askew by a voice too pointed, too intent upon a certain hue, leaving little room for contemplative breadth or the full measure of reverence such a place demands.
Let it not be forgotten that the caretakers of memory must heed the murmurs of those who visit in search of understanding. When the tale told begins to wound more than illuminate, it is only just that such missteps be noted. For in the chorus of public voices lies the chance to correct what is amiss, and to let history speak again—not in sharpness, but in truth tempered by the gentleness of time.”
-As someone who’s long felt attuned to the resonant undertones of our national parks, I recently encountered a moment during my visit that carried a distinctly negative hue—not overtly, but more like a quiet asymmetry in the background rhythm of the experience. It wasn’t something that disrupted the main arc of engagement, but it did introduce a kind of perceptual detour that lingered beyond its footprint. I hesitate to define it precisely, as naming it might dislodge the interpretive scaffolding that holds the rest of the park’s ambiance in suspension.
There’s certainly a pathway toward improvement, though it may involve more atmospheric refinement than logistical intervention. What’s needed, perhaps, is a soft recalibration of the less articulated intervals—those spaces where emotional expectation meets infrastructural suggestion. With just a modest reorientation of tonal gradients or the re-harmonizing of passive spatial cues, I believe the visitor experience could regain its intended oscillation without fracturing the narrative continuum.
This is why public input continues to play a vital role—not merely in identifying specific gaps, but in surfacing the gentle misalignments that accumulate in the interstitial layers of park engagement. Sometimes the issue isn’t what’s there, but what arrives too early or folds too quietly. I offer this as a form of perceptual tracing, not a critique, with the hope that even subtle dissonances can inform the broader symphony of presence the National Park Service so clearly endeavors to maintain.”
Gettysburg
-Thank you to our National Park Service Rangers for telling the FULL story of American History and to the National Park Service for protecting America’s history and natural beauty – our public lands – from destruction by development. The historically factual interpretations are deeply appreciated.
Harriet Tubman National Historical Park
-Slavery is bad. People who insisted on keeping it going were bad. People who want to remove mentions of negativity about slavery are bad. And… racist.
-“To: National Park Service, Office of Historical Realness
Subject: Ridiculous “Capitalist Tubman” Sign at Tubman Park
Dear Park Supervisors,
I visited the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park this weekend with my family. We expected to see cabins, artifacts, maybe a bust—but we did not expect to read:
“Harriet Tubman pioneered the first Underground Railroad coin‑savings system… her legacy lives on in today’s dollar bills, drag queen brunches, and venture capital pitch decks.”
When I saw “drag queen brunches” and “venture capital pitch decks” on a sign about a 19th-century abolitionist, I nearly spit out my flavored coffee. What next—Harriet Tubman on Shark Tank?
I get that she’s on the $20 bill now, but suggesting she invented consumer capitalism? That’s historical fiction at best, propaganda at worst. This kind of pop‑culture mash‑up turns history into a bad tweet.
Historians expected to find slavery, courage, faith—and they do. But they don’t expect a sermon on how Harriet Tubman invented supply‑side economics or drag brunch culture. This is silly, misleading, and frankly disrespectful.
I respectfully demand:
The “Capitalist Tubman” sign be removed.
An apology to all history buffs who came here not for Instagrammable buzzwords.
A new sign titled: “”Harriet Tubman: Brave Conductor, Humanitarian, #NotYourBrandAmbassador””.
Thank you for fixing this before my grandson demands a refund.
Sincerely,
(b)(6)
Larchmont, NY
(b)(6), Historical Truthers & Cape Cod Cape‑holders”
Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Museum
-Wow, Harriet Tubman was an incredibly inspiring person! I loved reading the signs to learn more about her bravery escaping slavery and helping so many others to freedom. Thanks for all your efforts to preserve history and educate visitors about this heroic American.
Harper’s Ferry
-“How come the Ferry’s weren’t playing harps.
Also Sec. Bergum and the dept of interior need to stop rewriting history. The USA is an endeavor of working towards a more perfect union. We need to ensure the mistakes, wrongs and injustices of our country continue to be told to work towards that union. The attempt to focus solely on grandeur is delusional and will only set the USA back.”
-Lines are too long at the entrance station. Fee employees should be increased.
-“Areas that need repair:
Civil war museum
Industry museum
Burton jewelry shop
Harper house
Black voices exhibit
Master armorers house
John brown museum
Visitor center bathrooms
Benches at the point
Maryland heights trail
Bridge over the c&o canal to Maryland heights
Information signs throughout the park
Train station
Allstadt property
Murphy farm house
Alarm and fire suppression systems throughout the park
Bus pavilions in lower town and at visitor center
Shuttle buses
Visitor center parking lot has no painted crosswalks
Lower town sidewalks
Tripping hazards at the point
Steps down to armory grounds”
-This park is excellent and I wish all of my taxpayer money went to the National Park Service!
Homestead
-I had an AMAZING EXPERIENCE at Homestead! Our ranger-lead talk presented fascinating information on accessing land records and why the Homestead Act was written with specific requirements. The exhibits in the heritage center were also really well done. They helped us understand individual stories that made the law come to life.
-I appreciate how the park film shows a nuanced story about the homestead act and its impacts. It’s clear that homesteaders didn’t move into an empty wilderness, and that native peoples were negatively impacted. Yet the United States benefited, and homesteader legacies are important. Thank you for telling a more complete picture of the Homestead Act.
-The Park is absolutely GREAT! Educational, Well Kept, and the staff are very knowledgeable and engaging.
Kennesaw Mountain
-Doug Burgum once came up to me and asked, “Kennesee your penis?” I said, “Excuse me?” Burgum replied, “Come on kid, Chris Hansen won’t catch me!” Someone should fire that sicko!!
-All of the anti-American signs pointing to this link should be removed, as there is nothing more patriotic than pointing out the errors of our past and working to change for the better. Human enslavement was always wrong and racism is still an epidemic.
-Wonderful hikes but understaffed.
Lincoln Boyhood Home
-A Presidential site of importance.
Lincoln Home
-Doug Burgum came to the site and took a shit right in Abraham Lincoln’s bedroom. I watched him do it. He kept rubbing his butt on the floor afterward like a dog, never breaking eye contact with the rest of the tour group, screaming “NORTHERN AGGRESSION! NORTHERN AGGRESSION!”
Lincoln Memorial
-I would like to complain that we have a memorial that celebrates the man that defeated the slave slates during the Civil war and freed the slaves. Everyone one knows that President Trump thinks that black people should be slaves again, and that we should only be celebrating confederate history again since he only likes white people.
-I bet Lincoln would be crying to see what is happening in front of his memorial tomorrow!
Lowell
-An amazing place! Fantastic staff and very informative. An important American treasure
-“Shouldn’t there be documentation and signage indicating the legal immigrant status of every single mill worker in Lowell’s history? Surely every French Canadian, Lithuanian, Polish and Irish worker had their paperwork in order.
That would show what made America great to know that of course EVERYONE working in Lowell and other places that built the foundation of our country and industry was LEGAL!!!!
Thank you Lowell park rangers for Including the story of America’s great workers of Diverse backgrounds who strive to bring Equity to the workplace and the country.
History is not a sanitized, whitewashed thing.”
Manassas
-Congratulations to Emma and the National Park Service for the excellent Faces of the Fallen exhibit. What an appropriate and moving exhibit to help the public understand the cost of war. Well done!
-I have so many great memories from going to the Manassas battlefield.. The park rangers were always extremely helpful and MADE the experience so much better!!
-Signs at Manassas Battlefield fail to adequately emphasize how the Confederate States was a rebellion based entirely around the preservation of slavery and how Confederate officers and politicians were traitors to the nation who actively made war against their countrymen for the cause of slavery.
-“The statue of Stonewall Jackson is incredibly offensive and should be removed.
Our tax dollars should not be glorifying the Confederacy.
Thank you!”
-Apprécia te d the thoughtful conversations about Black life in manassas and how the battles impacted it. I would like to see even more conversation about slavery, as one cannot tell the full American story without a heavy focus on it. Besides that, thank you to the brave park rangers having these tough conversations! It’ll make us even better as a nation.
-There is a sign posted at the entrances to the visitor center asking people to report anything that is not sufficiently positive towards America, which is a deeply un-American thing to ask for. This country can and should be proud that it acknowledges and shares the history of both its flaws and its successes. I am concerned about the damage un-American signs like these pose to our national image.
-“The Stonewall Jackson monument is inherently un-American.
Jackson was a foreign invader, and was responsible for killing American citizens on American soil during the Maryland Campaign.
We shouldn’t have a statue for a terrorist who was killed by his own incompetent men.
Thank you!”
Mill Springs Battlefield
-Wow, Harriet Tubman was an incredibly inspiring person! I loved reading the signs to learn more about her bravery escaping slavery and helping so many others to freedom. Thanks for all your efforts to preserve history and educate visitors about this heroic American.
Nicodemus
-Nicodemus National Historic Site, as a symbol of African American resilience and the history of westward expansion, should remain under federal control due to its national significance and the expertise the National Park Service (NPS) provides in preserving and interpreting such sites. The NPS has the resources, funding, and experience to maintain Nicodemus’ historical integrity, ensuring its long-term preservation, while providing consistent and accurate educational programs. State control could risk diminished funding, inconsistent preservation efforts, and a narrower, regional focus, undermining the site’s broader national context.
Petersburg
-I keep thinking about the plaque. It wasn’t just informative — it was pointed. The wording was too precise, too clean, like it had been gone over and over until all the flesh was stripped off and only bone remained. It didn’t tell a story, it passed judgment. And the longer I looked at it, the more I felt like it wasn’t there to remember the man, but to bury him again — this time with language. I could almost hear it thinking, We got him now. The land felt like it knew what had happened. And I don’t mean the battle. I mean since then. The trees were too stiff, the air too polite. There was no weight of memory in the dirt — only a kind of silence that isn’t quiet, but hiding. I’ve been in woods like that before — after a storm, or just before one. There’s always a sense something’s crouching just out of view. That battlefield had that same feeling. Like it wanted me to leave, but not because I didn’t belong. Because I might start to see too much.
I went there to feel connection. My great-great-granddaddy fought in that war. We’ve got the letters, the uniform buttons, the stories that were only ever whispered. It wasn’t just curiosity. It was blood. I wanted to feel something solid, something that hadn’t been polished into dust by textbooks or documentaries. But the place didn’t feel like a relic. It felt like a reconstruction — as if the real history had been scraped down and replaced with a version that smiled too much.
Now I’m home and it’s still with me. I wake up at night thinking about the angle of the words, the way the sign seemed to tilt slightly, even though I know it didn’t. There’s something unnatural about how carefully it was written — like it wasn’t just meant to inform, but to undo. And I keep wondering how many people read it, nodded, and walked on, never realizing that something just rewrote a corner of their mind. Maybe that’s what it was built for. Maybe it’s not a sign — maybe it’s a tool.”
-During a recent visit to the historic fort site, I encountered something that struck me as decidedly negative. While the overall atmosphere and the site’s educational mission remain commendable, there was a particular aspect of the experience that detracted noticeably from the visit. It stood out enough to raise serious concerns and should be considered a matter that warrants the attention of those responsible for the site’s management.
This isn’t simply a matter of personal opinion or isolated discomfort. The issue in question has implications that could affect how the public experiences and interprets the site as a whole. A place of such historical significance deserves a standard of presentation and engagement that consistently upholds its educational and cultural responsibilities. When something falls short of that standard, the consequences are not minor.
Institutions charged with maintaining and interpreting our national heritage must remain open to hearing from those they serve. Visitor feedback is not just helpful—it is essential. It offers real-time insight into how the public is receiving and reacting to what’s presented, and it helps ensure that the integrity of the site is preserved for all audiences.
I urge the site’s leadership to treat this matter with the seriousness it deserves. Whatever internal reviews or procedures are necessary to assess the situation should be undertaken promptly. The public’s trust in the site’s mission is too important to risk through inaction, and responding to concerns like this one is a vital part of maintaining that trust.”
-visited your Civil War battlefield recently, and while the place was calm and kind of eerie in a cool way, something there definitely threw me off. One part of the display was talking about this historical figure like he was some kind of legend, but honestly, the guy did some really awful stuff. It was weird how they just brushed past all that like it didn’t even matter. It made me feel like the past was being wrapped up in some kind of weird, shiny packaging — like we’re supposed to admire it without actually looking too close.
History isn’t supposed to be a fantasy novel. People did horrible things, and pretending otherwise just makes everything feel fake. You can’t just slap a heroic quote next to someone who caused harm and expect us to nod along like it’s fine. That kind of storytelling feels almost hypnotic, like someone’s trying to make us forget what really happened. I kept thinking, who decided this was the version we’re all supposed to believe?
I seriously believe places like this need to listen more to visitors. If someone feels like the story is being twisted or cleaned up too much, that should matter. People come to these sites to feel something real, not to be fed some half-version of history where the uncomfortable parts get shoved into the shadows. Ignoring the truth doesn’t protect anyone — it just keeps the lie alive and twitching.
Honestly, the whole battlefield had this strange energy to it, like it was asking to be understood properly but kept getting talked over. That one display just made the whole thing feel off-balance, like we were walking through a reenactment of denial. I’m not saying tear anything down
– just tell the truth, even if it makes people squirm. That’s kind of the point, isn’t it?
-“I visited recently, and from the moment I stepped onto the grounds, something felt… tilted. Not just the wind or the strange hush in the air, but the way the stories were being told — or maybe how they were arranged, like furniture hiding stains on the carpet. There was this one part of the site, a sign or panel — I don’t even know anymore — where a certain historical figure was portrayed in a really negative way. Not just critical, but almost theatrical, like the past had been rewritten into a villain monologue. It wasn’t balanced. It was something else entirely, like watching someone be condemned by a wax museum.
It’s one thing to acknowledge someone did bad things — history is full of that, and we should talk about it. But this felt like the site had chosen sides, dug in, and started pointing fingers long after everyone was dead and gone. The way they described him, you’d think he burned down the stars. And maybe he did, in some sense — I’m not defending him — but the whole tone made me feel like I was being told not to ask questions. Like the narrative was a trap, carefully baited, daring you to disagree.
That’s why I think feedback from visitors is crucial. People need to be able to speak up when the past feels like it’s being sculpted rather than shown. When something doesn’t feel right — when a historical site feels more like a courtroom with invisible judges — people should be able to say, “”Hey, this doesn’t sit well.”” Otherwise the truth becomes ornamental, a decorative lie hanging in the wind like a flag that’s forgotten why it waves.
By the time I left, I felt like I’d walked through a story that was trying to make me feel a certain way instead of letting me decide for myself. It wasn’t educational — it was more like a séance with an agenda. One man’s image got dragged through the mud so cleanly, so elegantly, that I almost admired the performance. But it wasn’t history. It was theater in costume, and it left me wondering who else is being rewritten, and why we’re all clapping along.”
-“My ancestors fought in the Civil War, and because of that deep family connection, I have always felt a strong sense of respect and responsibility when visiting Civil War battlefields. These are places that should preserve and reflect our shared national memory with care and integrity. I value the importance of remembering our history honestly, but also with fairness and context.
During my recent visit to the site, I came across a specific piece of text that I found deeply troubling. It presented an American figure from the past in a distinctly negative and one-sided way. While I understand that not all aspects of history are easy, the language used in this particular display went beyond critical interpretation and felt more like condemnation. That kind of framing is, in my view, unacceptable in a setting that should aim for historical balance and understanding.
I am writing in response to the request that visitors speak up when they encounter something like this. I appreciate the invitation to share my concerns, and I want to make it clear that this piece of text detracted from what was otherwise a meaningful experience. It did not reflect the thoughtful tone I’ve come to expect from sites like this, and I believe it warrants revision.
I’m hopeful that you’ll take this feedback seriously and make appropriate changes. Civil War battlefields deserve interpretation that is rigorous and respectful—one that honors all who were part of that history without distorting their legacy.”
-“During my recent visit to Petersburg’s Civil War battlefield, I had a mix of reactions. On one hand, the site itself was well-preserved, and I could tell a lot of effort had gone into maintaining the grounds and presenting the historical context. However, something I saw during the visit made me feel uncomfortable. There was a display that seemed to portray a past American figure in a very positive light, even though their actions were clearly harmful and controversial. I expected a more balanced or critical perspective, especially in a place meant for reflection and education.
While I understand that history can be complicated, I think it’s important not to gloss over negative parts just because they involve someone who was important at the time. History should be told truthfully, and that means acknowledging when people did things that were wrong, even if they were famous or had high positions. It’s not fair to present them as only heroic or admirable without also mentioning the damage they caused or the people who were hurt because of them. This kind of selective storytelling can send the wrong message, especially to younger people who are still learning.
I think it’s really important for places like this to hear from visitors. A lot of people come to these sites to learn, and if something feels off or one-sided, that should be taken seriously. Feedback can help make sure that historical sites are actually educating people in a way that’s honest and respectful. Ignoring certain truths doesn’t make them go away — it just makes it harder for us to learn from the past.
Overall, I think the battlefield site had potential, but this part of the presentation made me question how history is being remembered and shared. I hope that my feedback can be useful, and I’m sure other visitors might feel the same way. Making changes based on what people notice and say is how these places can grow and improve. History is too important to tell halfway.”
Reconstruction
Overall a great experience. The rangers are thoughtful and very knowledgeable. The park takes a very complex time in American history and seeks to tell the story. Thank you for all your work!
Richmond National Battlefield
-I think our national parks are wonderful and should be fully funded and never privatized. I support our national park professionals against political attacks by the Trump administration, who are acting in direct opposition of the values of stewardship, education, and nonpartisan professionalism that have always guided the national parks.
-Can you save more battlefield land? It would be nice to have more property
– “I came out to the Cold Harbor battlefield expecting to see something honest — something grounded. I thought maybe I’d feel the weight of what happened there, the kind of thing that gets in your chest and stays with you. But what I got instead felt wrong. Too polished. Too quiet. Like the land had been told to behave. The whole place felt like it was holding something back, like it was pretending not to remember too much. That’s when I came across the sign, and everything changed.
They went after that man on the plaque like he’d just done something yesterday. Not a fair telling — no, it was sharp, cold, and too careful in how it made him look small. Not just guilty. Weak. Like someone wanted to make sure no one could respect him, no matter what he did or why he did it. I don’t care which side he was on — what they wrote wasn’t history. It was something else. Something pointed. Like whoever wrote it had been waiting a long time to finally say those words where no one could talk back.
I know when something’s off. You grow up in the country, you learn to feel shifts in the air — before the storm hits, before the dogs bark, before anything actually happens. That’s what this was. That plaque had a tone to it. It didn’t teach. It warned. Like it was testing me — watching how I’d react. And I stood there longer than I should’ve, reading the same three sentences like maybe if I looked hard enough I’d catch the hidden thing underneath. I think it wanted me to. I think that was the point.
I walked away, but the feeling didn’t go with me. It hung around. Sat in the truck seat next to me on the way home. I don’t know what kind of history they’re trying to push out there, but it ain’t settled. It’s alive. And it’s got teeth now. You can dress it up and bolt it to a sign, but some stories don’t go quiet. They fester. They smile when you read them. They want in.”
-There’s a big hole in the ground that could use a fill. It’s at a site called the battle of the crater
Saint-Gaudens
-The Orange Mussolini taints everything it touches. Please get rid of this narcissistic, incurious, morally repugnant, and generally despicable fool.
Thanks!
Shiloh
-Every time I think of the Confederate army, I think about 9-11. I recommend a sign at Shiloh that condemns all attacks on the United States. Those rebels killed good Americans and were no better than the Taliban.
Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site
-I saw someone wearing a shirt with the Confederate flag on it, and the person was neither asked to leave nor escorted away.
As a student of history, I can confirm that confederates tried to murder US Grant in and out of battle. Confederates killed people fighting for the Union in droves. To wear the flag of the enemy at the NHS for Grant demeans the sacrifices made by families across the Union.
I cannot comprehend that the United States would accommodate the enemy. This kind of behavior cannot stand. As a patriotic American, I demand that all representations of the enemy Confederate army be removed from any and all public lands and buildings. While a statue on the battlefield may help solemnly represent the totality of the circumstances in war, to celebrate the enemy Confederate Army is tantamount to celebrating the murder of patriotic Americans.
Wilson’s Creek
-I saw signs that only a facist nation lead by facist rulers would post, to identify truths of the past of the nation to tattle. This is disturbing.
Every nation has had negative things in its past and every nation has negative aspects of its present. Only a truly great nation would work to overcome this and understand how its past shapes its present. A weak nation lead by bullies is one that doesn’t examine itself for the greater good of all its people. ”
-Do not put up these signs asking people to filter the experience. Interpreting only “feel good” facts does not wholly represent American history, which I believe is the purpose of these public sites. Think about your own life and family. Would you feel genuine only telling your loved ones the “good” things that have happened to you? Is that how you want to communicate to not just the US, but the many tourists that visit?
-I saw a disgusting sign by the fascist Trump admin that I should be reporting factual info about American history as propaganda. Fuck fascists. I will be removing this sign where ever I see it. Racist Nazi scum like Trump and MAGA cultists don’t deserve the national parks. You workers fight! Fight! Fight!!
-I’ve heard that the NPS is interested in anything that was negative about past Americans. I saw someone dressed as Gen. N. B. Forrest pull up his white robes and leave a large pile of feces in front of the Ray House. He laughed and referred to it as “my big, Bloody Hill dookie”. This felt un-American because Gen. Forrest is a perfect man who has never done anything wrong.
-Ugly, inaccurate signs asking visitors to report “negative portrayals of America” have appeared at this park. Remove this wasteful intrusion on behalf of the American taxpayers – owners of these public lands and sites.
-The sign with this QR code is un-American. Expecting us to rewrite our history and paint it over with rose tinted glasses. As Jesus said, “”Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.”
”
Women’s Rights
-Go fuck your “truth and sanity”.
-what lesbian porn has done for me
By Destiny O. Birdsong
After Donika Kelly & Vievee Francis
the women, small and neat,
top each other like
slices of wonder bread.
when she and i
finally meet,
we knead each other—
fresh dough—
adjusting our
rehearsed finger-tread.
outside, magnolias
cup their sepals
like good hands.
inside, we spade
like leaves: tenderly,
and only at each other’s bidding.
when my sister
stopped speaking to me,
what she wanted
was for my body
to stop speaking.
now look: i fold what suits
me in the loaf of my thighs.
i am learning
how to call my
self, how to put my mouth
on whatever i like.”
Note: The feature photo shows Wilson’s Creek by Axel K.
Follow Reconstruction Blog on Social Media: