Govind Tekale
A nearly four-year-old exhibit meant to broaden public understanding of Muir Woods’ complex history has become the first confirmed casualty of a sweeping federal policy change. Park officials removed the “History Under Construction” interpretive panels from the national monument last week, leaving temporary plywood in their place.
The removal stems from Executive Order 14253, “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” signed by President Trump on March 27, 2025, and subsequently implemented through Department of the Interior Secretarial Order 3431 in May.
What Was Removed and Why
The exhibit, installed in 2021, added contextual notes to existing historical displays at the monument. Rather than replacing the original information, park staff had attached sticky notes to fill in what they saw as historical gaps. A message at the top of the display read: “Alert: History Under Construction. Everything on this sign is true but incomplete.”
According to former ranger Elizabeth Villano, who helped develop the exhibit, “We didn’t want to take anything out. All we wanted to do was add in.”
What The Exhibit Added
The “History Under Construction” project expanded the timeline of Muir Woods’ history by adding several important elements previously absent from park interpretation:
- Recognition of Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo peoples who stewarded the land for centuries before colonization
- Information about the California Club, a women’s organization that launched the first campaign to save what was then called Sequoia Canyon in the early 1900s
- Historical context about figures like John Muir, who used racist language about Native Americans in some of his writings
- Notes about William Kent’s support for anti-Asian immigration policies and the Alien Land Laws of 1920
- Information about Gifford Pinchot’s involvement with the American Eugenics Society
The Policy Behind the Removal
The removal follows Executive Order 14253, “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” signed by President Trump on March 27, 2025, and its implementation through Department of Interior Secretarial Order 3431 in May.
The secretarial order instructs land management bureaus under the Department of Interior, including the National Park Service, to “remove any signage or interpretive material that contains descriptions, depictions, or other content that inappropriately disparages Americans past or living, and instead focus on the greatness of the achievements and progress of the American people or, with respect to natural features, the beauty, abundance, and grandeur of the American landscape.”
This directive stands in contrast to the National Park Service Organic Act of 1916, which established the agency with a mandate to “conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.”
Reactions to the Removal
The removal has generated significant reaction from former NPS staff and conservation organizations.
“That’s a story that teaches me that… even if I’m not a politician, if I’m not wealthy, if I’m not a man who holds a lot of power, my voice still matters,” Villano said about the California Club’s conservation efforts that were highlighted in the now-removed exhibit.
The National Parks Conservation Association has voiced concerns about the order’s implementation. NPS spokesperson Joshua Winchell confirmed that staff will “review all signs in the park as well as all the public input we receive about the signs.”
Other Parks Affected
The Muir Woods sign removal is not an isolated incident. According to documentation of recent developments:
- QR-code signs were posted at Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park on June 18, 2025
- Similar signs appeared at Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield by June 11, 2025
The Broader Context
The NPS manages 428 park units across the country, with about two-thirds focused on historical interpretation rather than purely natural features. The agency is mandated by its founding legislation to preserve and interpret history alongside natural resources.
The tension between different approaches to historical interpretation reflects broader societal debates about how American history should be presented in public spaces. Park staff had previously developed the “History Under Construction” approach as a way to expand historical narratives without erasing existing information.
What Happens Next
With the temporary plywood now in place of the removed exhibit, the park awaits further guidance on historical interpretation. Meanwhile, the new QR-code system invites visitors to report content they find objectionable, potentially affecting how rangers approach their educational mission going forward.The NPS has not yet announced what, if anything, will replace the removed exhibit at Muir Woods. The implementation of these policy changes comes amid broader concerns about management of federal lands under the current administration.
