In reaction to the Trump administration’s attempts to restrict exhibits and information about slavery, climate change, and other contentious issues, a group at the University of Minnesota has started a campaign to maintain displays at National Park Service-managed facilities.
The group, called Save Our Signs, describes itself as a community collaboration that was co-founded by a group of librarians, public historians, and data experts from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. The group has been asking people to take pictures and upload them of interpretive signs, exhibits, or text from NPS-administered areas that they believe could be removed as part of the Trump administration’s truth purge. Over 1,100 photos, some of which were taken at Hot Springs National Park, have been uploaded so far by users from all over the nation.
The Central High School National Historic Site in Little Rock is one of six other locations in Arkansas that Save Our Signs has not yet cataloged. Following an executive order from the Trump administration, sections about Central High School on the NPS website were heavily deleted, according to an April Arkansas Times story.
There are five additional NPS locations in Arkansas: Pea Ridge National Military Park in Benton County; President William Jefferson Clinton Birthplace National Historic Site in Hope; Arkansas Post National Memorial in Arkansas County; Buffalo National River; and Fort Smith National Historic Site.
On its website, Save Our Signs states that a public photo collection will be made available later this year.
It’s dragon-slaying time!
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