Park Signage Lawsuit: History and Science in the Crosshairs
A coalition of conservationists, historians, and scientists has filed a lawsuit against the current federal administration. The suit challenges new rules that have prompted the removal or alteration of educational displays across national parks in the United States.
Background
- March 2025: An executive directive called for a “restoration of truth and sanity” at public museums and parks.
- May 2025: A memo from the interior secretary demanded removal of what it termed “improper partisan ideology.”
- Summer 2025: Park officials began acting on these instructions, according to the complaint.
Affected Sites
| Park | Removed Content |
|---|---|
| Grand Canyon National Park | Panels criticizing settlers and ranchers |
| Sunset Crater Volcano Monument | Sign about basalt bubbles featuring a Pride flag |
| Muir Woods (California) | Notices on Indigenous peoples, women’s conservation roles, and eugenics |
| Acadia, Lowell, Glacier, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, President’s House Site (Philadelphia), Fort Sumter, Grand Teton | Various historical and scientific displays |
The lawsuit claims thousands of other items across historic and natural sites have been flagged for removal.
Plaintiffs
- National Parks Conservation Association
- American Association for State and Local History
- Association of National Park Rangers
- Union of Concerned Scientists
They argue that these actions strip visitors of critical historical context and scientific knowledge, violating a duty to preserve parks as educational spaces.
Legal Objectives
- Declare the interior secretary’s directive unlawful.
- Stop further removal of historical or scientific material from parks.
Related Litigation
On the same day, LGBTQ+ rights advocates and preservationists filed a separate lawsuit targeting the removal of a rainbow Pride flag from the Stonewall National Monument in New York, highlighting the broader conflict over how public spaces represent history and identity.
