Erasure in Action

The Save Our Signs team works to document erasure of history and science happening across our national parks.   We have created these resources below to help visualize this censorship:

Removed:  Before and After Photos

See the full map of removed signs at z.umn.edu/CensorshipTracker.  Below are some example before and after photos of signs that have been censored at NPS sites.

National Mall and Memorial Parks

Read more about these censored signs at:  Erasure in DC

Before and after photos below were submitted to Save Our Signs.

Independence National Historical Park 

Read more about these censored signs at:  Erasure in Philly

Before and after photos below were submitted to Save Our Signs.

Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park

In January 2026, the New York Times reported that 4 signs were removed at Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park.  Three were signs at water bottle refill stations promoting plastic waste reduction, and the fourth was a wayside panel describing island construction and sea-level rise risks. Before and after photos below were submitted to Save Our Signs.

Gateway National Recreation Area

Volunteers submitted these before-and-after photographs of a display removed from Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, which is part of Gateway National Recreation Area in New York City.  The Washington Post confirmed the removal on September 20th:  “a display at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in New York City was taken down for making reference to historical events like slavery, Japanese internment camps and conflicts with Native Americans in describing the park system.”  Before and after photos below were submitted to Save Our Signs.

Muir Woods National Monument

Volunteers submitted these before-and-after pictures of the first documented removal/modification of a sign under the Executive Order and Secretarial Order, of a sign called "Saving Muir Woods."  Portions of the sign were reported to be removed from Muir Woods National Monument, CA, in July 2025.  This sign had originally had the "ALERT: HISTORY UNDER CONSTRUCTION" sign and additional details added to the timeline as part of a living history lesson at the park, researched by rangers and in conversation with the community.  Before and after photos below were submitted to Save Our Signs.