Preserve our History, Environment and Culture, One Sign at a Time

History lives where we least expect it, on the weathered panels that stand guard beside trails,
perched atop scenic overlooks, and nestled near historic structures in our national parks. But today, these unassuming signboards face a serious threat: the Trump administration’s campaign to reshape and sanitize America’s story.

This isn’t just bureaucratic tinkering. The administration has pressured the National Park Service to review and rewrite interpretive text on exhibits and signage that it deems “anti-American.” In some cases, officials have gone further, asking park visitors to report signs and displays they believe cast the United States in an unfavorable light. Think about that, our national parks, places meant to educate and inspire, are being turned into battlegrounds for ideological purity tests.

What does this mean in practice? It means signs that tell the truth about some of the hardest chapters in our history are at risk:

• Civil War battlefields where signs honestly describe slavery as the central cause of the conflict.

• Native American sites that acknowledge forced removals, massacres, and broken treaties.

• World War II locations like Manzanar, Minidoka, and Tule Lake that tell the painful story of Japanese American incarceration.

• Civil Rights landmarks that document the violence and resistance faced by those who fought for equality.

• Environmental sites such as Glacier or Everglades, where interpretive text describes how climate change is reshaping ecosystems.

• Industrial and mining landscapes where signs explain the damage caused by pollution, clear-cutting, or overuse of natural resources.

Under this campaign, visitors could soon encounter only a whitewashed version of history, one stripped of struggle, diversity, and hard truths. If allowed to stand, this approach reduces our parks to propaganda rather than places of education and reflection. Trump has ordered information deemed inappropriate to be removed by September 17, 2025.

Now more than ever, we must safeguard these echoes of the past before they disappear.

Why It’s Important to Tell the Entire Story

Our national parks are more than scenic backdrops; they are living classrooms that reveal the full scope of America’s natural, cultural, and historic legacy. From the towering sequoias of California to the battlefields of the Civil War, these places tell stories that are both inspiring and difficult. Some celebrate achievement, resilience, and discovery; others confront us with injustice, exploitation, and loss.

If we allow only the comfortable or convenient stories to be told, we lose the richness of our collective past. Interpreting the whole spectrum, beauty and struggle, triumph and tragedy, helps us understand who we are as a nation. It reminds us of what we’ve overcome, and it equips us to confront challenges still before us.

Interpretive signs are one of the most direct ways visitors encounter these lessons. They provide context, amplify diverse voices, and ensure that future generations inherit a history that is truthful, not selective. Preserving these signs is about more than words on a panel, it’s about protecting the integrity of America’s story in all its complexity.

Introducing: The “Save Our Signs” Project

The Save Our Signs initiative is a grassroots effort dedicated to documenting and archiving all history-related interpretive signs across our national parks. Its vision is simple yet powerful: ensure future generations can read, learn from, and reflect on the truths these signs convey, regardless of shifting political winds.

What You Can Do — Today

1. Visit a national park: Any one will do. From Yosemite to Acadia, every sign tells a story.

2. Snap a photo: Aim for clarity, capture the entire sign, including any contextual elements like nearby artifacts, structures, or landscapes.

3. Submit it online: Upload the image (and any notes—location, date, sign text) via the project’s submission portal: Save Our Signs photo submission.

Why this matters:

• Public record: Even if signage is altered or removed, your contribution ensures the original remains accessible.

• Crowdsourced clarity: A database built by volunteers across the country captures diverse signs from major parks to small sites.

• Collective resistance: Taking this small step is a statement. Together, we show that history can’t be erased.

A Call to Action

Calling all history-lovers, hikers, families, park fans, and American patriots, your next trip to a national park can do more than renew your spirit; it can preserve the truth. When you’re there, pause. Look. Photograph.

Tag your photos with something like "SaveOurSigns" if you're sharing on social media, and don’t forget to submit through the project portal so your documentation becomes part of something lasting and impactful.

Here’s how to help move this forward:

• Share this post with your friends, local groups, and on social media. Encourage them to visit their local parks ASAP. Encourage folks to capture every sign imaginable, especially those sharing complex or underrepresented histories.

• Forward this post to friends, family, and colleagues who work for the National Park Service and other federal land management agencies. They come in contact with our parks' interpretive displays daily. They are in the best position to capture the vast majority of signs. Encourage these park employees to photograph their park's signs before September 17, 2025.

Together, we can build a lasting archive that resists erasure and honors every story that belongs to our national narrative. Visit a park. Take a photo. Save our signs and the history they tell.

###

Meet Sean Smith, a master of conservation, adventure, and storytelling! This award-winning
conservationist and former National Park and Forest Ranger has trekked through the wilderness of Yellowstone, Glacier, Mount St. Helens, and the North Cascades, keeping nature safe with his trusty ranger hat and boots. But Sean's talents don't stop there. He's a TEDx speaker and even a private pilot.

But amidst all these adventures, Sean's heart beats for storytelling. He's been spinning tales since childhood, and now he writes thrilling national park novels that'll have you hooked from the first page. Imagine the drama and mystery of the mountains combined with the adrenaline of a rollercoaster ride. That's what you'll find in Sean's books, set against the majestic backdrop of Yellowstone, Gettysburg, and Mount Rainier. His most recent thriller is set in Glacier and will drop later this year.

So, if you're craving an escape into the wild, look no further. Grab a copy of Sean's novels and prepare for an unforgettable adventure. These stories will transport you to the heart of the national parks, where danger lurks and heroes rise. Don't miss out! Find all his captivating novels right here and in the QR code included. 

Celebrating 109 Years of America’s Greatest Idea

Today marks the 109th birthday of the National Park Service (NPS), an institution born on August 25, 1916, when President Woodrow Wilson signed the Organic Act into law. For over a century, the NPS has safeguarded our most cherished landscapes, historic treasures, and cultural landmarks. From the soaring granite walls of Yosemite to the sweeping plains of Yellowstone, from the solemn battlefields of Gettysburg to the coral reefs of Biscayne, our parks embody not only the best of America but also one of the greatest gifts we have ever given the world.

A Gift Across Generations

When our ancestors chose to set aside these lands, they did something extraordinary. They resisted the short-term temptations of exploitation and profit in favor of a legacy that would endure. Timber barons, miners, and railroad magnates all pressed to consume these landscapes. Yet citizens, visionaries, and lawmakers fought instead to protect them for future generations, for their children, and for us.

This was not a gift given lightly. The creation of national parks often came at great personal sacrifice. Advocates like John Muir, Theodore Roosevelt, and countless unnamed rangers, scientists, and citizens gave their energy, and sometimes their livelihoods, to ensure that these places would belong to all people, not just the wealthy or powerful. In doing so, they gave us cathedrals of granite and forests, sanctuaries for wildlife, and classrooms under the open sky.

Lessons from the Field

During my own years working in the national parks, I had the privilege of speaking with thousands of visitors about the park system. Not once did anyone say they wished our ancestors had done less to protect these places. Instead, time and again, people expressed the opposite; they wished our ancestors had done more. More land protected, more history preserved, more wildlife safeguarded. And if that’s what we say today, future generations will surely say the same about us. It is our duty, both to those who came before us and to those who will follow, to do everything we can to protect our national parks.

A Threat to America’s Greatest Gift

Yet as we celebrate this milestone, we must also acknowledge a sobering truth: the long-term survival of our parks is under threat. The Trump Administration has repeatedly attempted to shrink national monuments, open public lands to drilling and mining, slash budgets, and undermine bedrock environmental protections. These moves risk undoing the very covenant our ancestors made on our behalf—that America’s natural and cultural treasures are not for sale or private exploitation, but for stewardship.

The parks cannot defend themselves. They rely on us, citizens, voters, and advocates to ensure they remain protected. Neglect, underfunding, and political hostility could reduce our “greatest idea” to just another line item to be cut or a resource to be exploited.

A Call to Action

On this 109th birthday of the National Park Service, let us not only celebrate but recommit. The best way to honor this legacy is through action:

➡️ Contact your elected officials, especially those in the swing districts listed below, and demand full funding and robust support for our national parks.

Nick Begich (AK - At Large)

David Schweikert (AZ - 1)

Juan Ciscomani  (AZ - 6)

Jeff Hurd (CO-3)

Gabe Evans (CO -8)

Don Bacon (NE - 2)

Ryan E. Mackenzie (PA - 7)

Rob Bresnahan Jr. (PA - 8)

Scott Perry (PA - 10)

Derrick Van Orden (WI - 3)

➡️ Remind them that these places are as American as baseball, hot dogs, and apple pie. And that you will remember their votes on national parks when they come up for re-election in 2026.
➡️ Tell them that protecting our parks means protecting our health, our history, our culture, and our children’s inheritance.

America’s national parks are more than vacation spots. They are sacred spaces, cultural treasures, and global symbols of democracy and foresight. On this day, let us celebrate their past and fight fiercely for their future.

###

Meet Sean Smith, a master of conservation, adventure, and storytelling! This award-winning
conservationist and former National Park and Forest Ranger has trekked through the wilderness of Yellowstone, Glacier, Mount St. Helens, and the North Cascades, keeping nature safe with his trusty ranger hat and boots. But Sean's talents don't stop there. He's a TEDx speaker and even a private pilot.

But amidst all these adventures, Sean's heart beats for storytelling. He's been spinning tales since childhood, and now he writes thrilling national park novels that'll have you hooked from the first page. Imagine the drama and mystery of the mountains combined with the adrenaline of a rollercoaster ride. That's what you'll find in Sean's books, set against the majestic backdrop of Yellowstone, Gettysburg, and Mount Rainier. His most recent thriller is set in Glacier and will drop later this year.

So, if you're craving an escape into the wild, look no further. Grab a copy of Sean's novels and prepare for an unforgettable adventure. These stories will transport you to the heart of the national parks, where danger lurks and heroes rise. Don't miss out! Find all his captivating novels right here and in the QR code included. 

New Leadership, New Resolve: NPCA’s Moment to Defend America’s Parks Without Compromise

Values Worth Fighting For

The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) is America’s oldest and largest non-profit dedicated to protecting our national parks. The organization recently announced that Theresa Pierno, its longtime President and Chief Executive Officer, is stepping down. In the press release, Pierno described the decision as “deeply difficult."

In a former chapter of my career, I had the privilege of working for NPCA and under Theresa’s leadership. While I’m no longer directly involved and don’t have insider information, I can say this. If Theresa is anything like I remember, she likely struggled with this decision because of how deeply she believes in the mission. She knows, firsthand, the powerful, often life-changing opportunity NPCA offers its staff and supporters to take meaningful, effective action on behalf of some of America’s most cherished places and ideals.

NPCA has long prided itself on being a nonpartisan organization, describing itself as “the only independent, nonpartisan organization dedicated to advocacy on behalf of the National Park System.” For decades, this approach worked well. By appealing to a broad cross-section of the political spectrum, NPCA helped achieve landmark conservation victories, from wilderness designations to air and water protections. The idea was simple but profound: everyone, regardless of party, should support preserving our shared national treasures.

But today’s political landscape is no longer defined by good-faith debates over the priorities or management of public lands. We now confront a much more existential threat, one in which some factions question whether the federal government should even own or manage public lands at all. This is a fundamentally different fight!

Under the Trump administration, for example, we witnessed a series of unprecedented rollbacks and attacks on public lands and the National Park Service itself. These include proposals to dramatically reduce the number of national parks and monuments, renewed pushes for resource extraction on public lands, censorship of scientific research, the erasure of Black, Indigenous, and other marginalized histories from park interpretive materials, the shuttering of the agency’s premier training facilities, erecting statues to traitors, and the firing or termination of hundreds of career park rangers. These actions aren’t policy tweaks; they are calculated steps to weaken the very foundations of America’s national park legacy.

In that context, Theresa's decision to step aside may reflect a recognition that a new era requires a new kind of leadership.

If NPCA is to remain the nation’s most influential and effective defender of the National Park System, it must reassess its stance on nonpartisanship, at least for now. Being nonpartisan should never mean being neutral in the face of harm. When one side of the political spectrum is actively undermining the park system’s integrity, science, history, and future, staying silent or striving for neutrality can become a form of complicity.

Instead, NPCA must recommit to its core mission and values, and, when necessary, take unapologetically strong positions in defense of the parks. That includes publicly opposing any political administration, regardless of party, whose policies threaten park resources, access, staffing, or public trust. It means mobilizing its members, supporting litigation and legislation, leading protests, and flooding congressional offices with constituent voices demanding better.

Now more than ever, NPCA needs a leader who will not flinch, someone with a bold, visionary, and uncompromising commitment to protecting America’s natural and cultural heritage. A leader who understands that our national parks are not just pretty landscapes or economic engines, but are essential to our national identity, our environmental resilience, and our shared story.

The national park system we know today didn’t emerge by accident. At the time of Yellowstone’s founding, powerful interests sought to privatize, exploit, and develop nearly every acre of the American West. But a few determined individuals like Henry Washburn, Nathaniel Langford, and Ferdinand Hayden pushed back. They believed places like Yellowstone and future parks like Glacier, Gettysburg, and beyond should belong to all Americans, not just the privileged few.

Their vision gave us one of the most admired and imitated public land systems in the world. But that vision is under threat.

If we are to honor their legacy and safeguard these lands for future generations, we must be willing to fight for it. That fight begins now.

If you are a member of NPCA, I encourage you to contact the organization and advocate for a leader who will rise to this moment, someone who understands the gravity of what’s at stake and is ready to act with urgency, resolve, and principles. Our parks deserve nothing less.

The next generation is counting on us.

###

Meet Sean Smith, a master of conservation, adventure, and storytelling! This award-winning
conservationist and former National Park and Forest Ranger has trekked through the wilderness of Yellowstone, Glacier, Mount St. Helens, and the North Cascades, keeping nature safe with his trusty ranger hat and boots. But Sean's talents don't stop there. He's a TEDx speaker and even a private pilot.

But amidst all these adventures, Sean's heart beats for storytelling. He's been spinning tales since childhood, and now he writes thrilling national park novels that'll have you hooked from the first page. Imagine the drama and mystery of the mountains combined with the adrenaline of a rollercoaster ride. That's what you'll find in Sean's books, set against the majestic backdrop of Yellowstone, Gettysburg, and Mount Rainier. His most recent thriller is set in Glacier and will drop later this year.

So, if you're craving an escape into the wild, look no further. Grab a copy of Sean's novels and prepare for an unforgettable adventure. These stories will transport you to the heart of the national parks, where danger lurks and heroes rise. Don't miss out! Find all his captivating novels right here and in the QR code included. 

National Monuments Under Attack: DOJ’s Ruling Opens Door to the erasure of dozens of National Park Sites

In a quiet yet seismic legal shift, the U.S. Department of Justice under Donald Trump has declared that presidents have the authority not only to create national monuments but also to revoke or eliminate them if those sites were not explicitly authorized by Congress. This reversal of longstanding legal interpretation sets a dangerous precedent and places dozens of America’s most treasured public lands, historic landmarks, and cultural sites at risk.

For more than a century, the Antiquities Act of 1906 has been used by presidents of both parties to safeguard America’s natural and cultural heritage—from the cliffs of Devils Tower to the sacred ground of Bears Ears. Until now, it was widely understood that while the Act granted the president the power to designate monuments, only Congress had the authority to abolish them. That understanding was upheld in law, policy, and practice for generations. But with the Justice Department’s new opinion, the door is now wide open for a future administration, particularly one hostile to conservation, to unilaterally gut the agencies like the National Park Service by eliminating monuments with the stroke of a pen.

🔥 What’s at Risk?

This decision affects every national monument that has not been codified by Congress, which includes many of the nearly 90 national monuments managed by the National Park Service (NPS). These sites were created by presidential proclamation under the Antiquities Act but never received legislative backing. That makes them vulnerable.

Among the beloved national monuments that could now be at risk are:

• Devils Tower (WY) – the very first national monument, designated in 1906

• Stonewall (NY) – the first LGBTQ+ national monument

• African Burial Ground (NY) – honoring enslaved Africans in colonial America

• César E. Chávez (CA) – commemorating the farmworker movement

• Birmingham Civil Rights, Freedom Riders, and Emmett Till & Mamie Till-Mobley – vital monuments preserving our civil rights history

• Statue of Liberty, our nation's universal symbol of freedom and democracy.

• And dozens more, including sacred Indigenous lands, volcanic landscapes, ancient ruins, and fossil beds

In short, some of the most diverse and inclusive sites in our National Park System—places that tell stories long overlooked or deliberately erased—are now themselves vulnerable to erasure.

🏗️ What Happens If a Monument Is Revoked?

If a national monument designation is revoked, the consequences go far beyond symbolic loss. Management of the land would likely revert to whichever federal agency originally held jurisdiction, most often the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or the U.S. Forest Service. These agencies do not have the same protective mandates as the National Park Service and often manage land for multiple uses, including grazing, logging, mining, and oil and gas drilling. Without monument protections, cultural sites could lose archaeological safeguards, historic structures might fall into neglect, and landscapes once protected from industrial encroachment could be auctioned off for oil and gas leasing or hardrock mining. Questions would immediately arise: Who is responsible for visitor services? What happens to tribal co-management agreements? Are ongoing educational or scientific programs canceled? The answers, unfortunately, are murky, and none bode well for the integrity of the site or its long-term stewardship.

⚖️ The Legal Shift

The Justice Department's new stance overturns prior legal interpretations that treated monument designations as permanent unless Congress decided otherwise. It aligns with actions taken during the Trump administration's first term, when it attempted to dramatically shrink Bears Ears and Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monuments—though those actions faced lawsuits and were ultimately reversed by President Biden.

But with this legal opinion now on the books, a future president could go much further, eliminating monuments entirely, especially those not politically favored. And unless Congress has passed legislation to formally authorize the monument, there appears to be little legal recourse.

🚨 Why This Matters

The National Park System is often called “America’s best idea.” But this decision threatens to reduce our best idea to a partisan plaything—subject to the whims of presidents who see conservation as a barrier to industry, extraction, or political ideology.

📣 What You Can Do

Concerned citizens must act now to protect these irreplaceable treasures:

1. Contact your members of Congress and demand that they pass legislation to codify at-risk national monuments, starting with those most threatened.

2. Support organizations fighting for public lands, such as the National Parks Conservation Association, the Wilderness Society, and Earthjustice.

3. Spread the word. Share this story, educate your community, and vote for leaders who value conservation, not exploitation.

4. Demand a legislative fix. Congress must amend the Antiquities Act or pass companion legislation ensuring that once designated, national monuments cannot be abolished by presidential fiat.

📍 Conclusion

If the Antiquities Act can be turned into a tool for destruction instead of protection, no national monument is safe. The legacy of Theodore Roosevelt, the vision of environmental stewards like Rachel Carson and David Brower, the voices of civil rights champions like Cesar Chavez and John Lewis—all could be silenced if we don’t act.

The monuments belong to all Americans, not to any one president. Let’s keep them that way.

###

Meet Sean Smith, a master of conservation, adventure, and storytelling! This award-winning
conservationist and former National Park and Forest Ranger has trekked through the wilderness of Yellowstone, Glacier, Mount St. Helens, and the North Cascades, keeping nature safe with his trusty ranger hat and boots. But Sean's talents don't stop there. He's a TEDx speaker and even a private pilot.

But amidst all these adventures, Sean's heart beats for storytelling. He's been spinning tales since childhood, and now he writes thrilling national park novels that'll have you hooked from the first page. Imagine the drama and mystery of the mountains combined with the adrenaline of a rollercoaster ride. That's what you'll find in Sean's books, set against the majestic backdrop of Yellowstone, Gettysburg, and Mount Rainier. His most recent thriller is set in Glacier and will drop later this year.

So, if you're craving an escape into the wild, look no further. Grab a copy of Sean's novels and prepare for an unforgettable adventure. These stories will transport you to the heart of the national parks, where danger lurks and heroes rise. Don't miss out! Find all his captivating novels right here and in the QR code included. 

A Beautiful Bill? Not for Our Parks: Why H.R. 1 Threatens America’s Public Lands

On May 22, 2025, the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" (H.R. 1) with a vote of 215–214, and one member voting present. This bloated legislation aligns with  President Donald Trump's agenda, encompassing significant tax cuts, reductions in social programs, and substantial changes to public land management policies. The bill now advances to the Senate, where it faces further deliberation. The Senate is expected to take up the bill in June.

Impacts on Public Lands and National Parks

H.R. 1 introduces several provisions that could profoundly affect the management and preservation of America's public lands:

• Rescission of Conservation Funds: The bill rescinds unobligated balances from the Inflation Reduction Act allocated to the National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management, totaling approximately $267 million. This could hinder staffing, maintenance, and conservation projects in national parks.

• Prohibition on Implementing Certain Resource Management Plans: H.R. 1 prohibits the implementation of specific resource management plans, such as those for the Grand Junction and Colorado River Valley Field Offices in Colorado. This restriction may limit the BLM's ability to manage land use effectively in these areas.

• Expansion of Fossil Fuel Development: By mandating the leasing of all lands nominated by the oil and gas industry in several states, the bill prioritizes fossil fuel development, potentially at the expense of environmental conservation and recreation.

• Reduced Environmental Oversight: The bill includes provisions that may weaken environmental regulations, such as rescinding funds for environmental reviews, potentially leading to unchecked development.

• Impact on Wildlife and Ecosystems: Increased industrial activities near protected areas could disrupt wildlife habitats, migration patterns, and overall ecosystem health, affecting biodiversity and natural processes.

• Potential Decline in Tourism and Recreation: Environmental degradation and reduced funding for park services may diminish the quality of visitor experiences, potentially leading to a decline in tourism-related revenue for local communities.

• Air and Water Quality Concerns: Expanded drilling and mining activities raise concerns about pollution, which could affect air and water quality in and around national parks, posing risks to both ecosystems and public health.

Conservation Groups' Perspectives

Several environmental and conservation organizations have voiced strong opposition to H.R. 1:

• National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA): The NPCA opposes H.R. 1, stating that it undermines the protection and enhancement of the National Park System by rescinding critical funding and promoting fossil fuel development near protected areas.

• The Wilderness Society: This organization criticizes the bill for opening vast areas to drilling, mining, and logging, arguing that it prioritizes industrial interests over environmental protection and public enjoyment of natural spaces.

• Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA): While BHA applauds the removal of a provision that would have sold off public lands, it continues to oppose aspects of the bill that expedite development in intact fish and wildlife habitats.

Call to Action

The "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" poses significant threats to the preservation and responsible management of America's public lands and national parks. If you are concerned about the potential impacts of this legislation, consider taking the following actions:

Contact Your Senators: Reach out to your U.S. Senators to express your opposition to H.R. 1 and urge them to vote against the bill. Republican opposition is key to killing or amending the objectionable aspects of the bill. Below is a list of Senators who are up for re-election in 2026 and won their last election by 53% or less. Meanwhile, Senator McConnell is retiring and should be free to vote his conscience on the bill. 

• Senator Susan Collins (R-ME)

  • Phone: (202) 224-2523

  • Email: Contact Form

• Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)

  • Phone: (202) 224-3254

  • Email: Contact Form

• Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC)

  • Phone: (202) 224-6342

  • Email: Contact Form

• Senator John Cornyn (R-TX)

  • Phone: (202) 224-2934

  • Email: Contact Form

• Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

  • Phone: (202) 224-2541

  • Email: Contact Form

Conclusion

The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” is a sweeping piece of legislation with consequences that extend far beyond fiscal policy. For America’s public lands—our national parks, wildlife refuges, forests, and open spaces—it represents a profound shift away from stewardship and sustainability toward short-term exploitation and deregulation. From gutting conservation funds to mandating oil and gas leasing near protected areas, the bill jeopardizes the health of ecosystems, the viability of wildlife, the quality of outdoor recreation, and the future of our shared natural heritage.

We are at a critical juncture. The Senate now holds the power to stop this bill and safeguard the places that define our national identity. Our parks and public lands cannot speak for themselves—they need us to do it for them.

Let your voice be heard. Speak out. Stand up. And help ensure that the legacy we pass on is one of protection, not neglect.