New signage at Cuyahoga Valley National Park urges visitors to flag “negative” historical messaging, sparking debate over how America’s complex past should be presented in national parks. The notices, posted at visitor centers and along trails, stem from a Trump administration executive order promoting a patriotic narrative of U.S. history.
The signs, visible at the park’s Boston Mills Visitor Center, Canal Exploration Center, and multiple trails, ask visitors to report content deemed disparaging toward “past or living Americans” or that neglects to highlight the nation’s “beauty, grandeur, and abundance.” The directive aligns with President Trump’s September 2020 executive order, “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” which calls for federal agencies to promote “patriotic education.”
Critics argue the policy risks sanitizing history. Crystal Davis of the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) warned the approach could suppress nuanced storytelling. “The American story is complex, with highs and lows,” Davis said. “We think it’s important to tell full, accurate stories—even if some aspects are uncomfortable.” She also expressed concern that park rangers might face pressure to self-censor.
Jonathan Entin, a law and political science professor at Case Western Reserve University, said the signs reflect a “cheerleading view” of history. “Anything that departs from 100% positive, enthusiastic views is somehow suspect,” he noted.
In a statement, Cuyahoga Valley National Park spokesperson Pam Barnes defended the initiative, saying it reinforces the National Park Service’s (NPS) commitment to “accuracy” while allowing visitors to connect with parks “free of partisan ideology.”
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Davis emphasized national parks’ role as unifying spaces. “You have to know where you’ve been to understand where you can go,” she said. The signs remain installed as the debate over historical interpretation in public lands continues.
