Forcing the Park Service to dismantle the President’s House exhibit is an insult to the memory of the enslaved people who lived there and to their descendants.
WASHINGTON - Following an administration order to inventory and remove history and science it deems inappropriate for national parks, the National Park Service, acting under duress, has dismantled the President’s House exhibit at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia.
The President’s House exhibit, which explored the lives of enslaved people at President George Washington’s residence in Philadelphia, was developed collaboratively by the National Park Service, City of Philadelphia, and key community leaders.
More than two-thirds of America’s national park sites are devoted to protecting history and culture. The Park Service is one of the country’s largest repositories of American history, protecting millions of historic artifacts and landmarks. The agency is mandated by law to preserve, protect, and interpret American history. The administration’s order threatens that mandate.
Ed Stierli, Senior Mid-Atlantic Regional Director for the National Parks Conservation Association, issued the following statement on the dismantling of the President’s House exhibit:
“Few stories are more integral to the fabric of this country than the story of American independence, and there is nowhere better to learn that story than Independence National Historical Park. But being proud of our independence does not mean we should hide the mistakes of our past. National parks should help us grapple with the truths, complexities, and contradictions of our history.
“Forcing the Park Service to dismantle the President’s House exhibit is an insult to the memory of the enslaved people who lived there and to their descendants. It reverses years of collaborative work by the National Park Service, City of Philadelphia, and community members, and sets a dangerous precedent of prioritizing nostalgia over the truth. Our history is the beating heart of our national parks, and Americans will not stand for it being erased.”
About the National Parks Conservation Association: Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its more than 1.9 million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s most iconic and inspirational places for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org.
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