A nonprofit that advocates for the nation’s cultural landscapes has picked “erasing American history” for its annual report on “threatened” landscapes, selecting that topic amid the Trump administration’s effort to overhaul history education at national parks.
The Cultural Landscape Foundation, based in Washington, said Tuesday the nation is “witnessing the erasure of cultural resources that reflect and interpret facets of our shared history.” It’s accepting public submissions for its “Landslide 2026” report that will explore the “important landscapes and landscape features that are threatened.” The report will accompany an online exhibit when published.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum ordered a sweeping review of park content last year to identify museums, books or exhibits that the administration views as overly disparaging to historic Americans. The National Park Service didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Hundreds of museum exhibits and other educational material have been flagged by national parks for potential revisions, and some changes have already been made. Those include the removal of an outdoor exhibit exploring the history of George Washington’s ownership of slaves at the Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, where the former president once lived with a retinue of enslaved family servants.
