Appeals Court Lets National Parks Keep Removing Exhibits on Slavery and Climate

At the Kingsley Plantation within Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve in Florida, an exhibit titled "Freedom Seekers of Timucuan Preserve" has been flagged. At Cane River Creole National Historical Park in Louisiana, an exhibit about enslaved people who were captured and whipped after escape attempts is under review.

At Manassas National Battlefield Park in Virginia, a sign criticizing post-Civil War "Lost Cause" ideology has been flagged. At Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument in Arizona, a sign describing basalt bubbles was ordered removed after it included an image of a visitor holding a Pride flag.

At Everglades National Park in Florida, descriptions of industrialization's impact on the wetland ecosystem are listed. At Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in Arizona, material on destructive grazing practices, the rate of global warming since 1850, and a booklet about endangered turtles and Sonoran pronghorn has been flagged.

At Glacier National Park in Montana, interpretive materials on climate change and glacier disappearance are under review. At Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee, a plaque explaining how fossil fuels cause air pollution has been flagged.

At Cape Hatteras National Seashore in North Carolina, a plaque titled "The Air We Breathe" discussing clean air is listed. At Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail in Alabama, about 80 items have been flagged. At Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park in Kansas, the permanent exhibit mentioning "equity" is under review.

At Sitka National Historical Park in Alaska, a display referencing mistreatment of Alaskan Native peoples by missionaries has been flagged. At Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in Montana, a sign describing the U.S. as "hungry for gold and land" and breaking promises to Native Americans is listed.

At Castillo de San Marcos National Monument in Florida, language about the imprisonment of Native Americans inside the Spanish stone fortress has been flagged. At Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site in Arizona, a panel discussing Navajo leader Ganado Mucho has been flagged.

Statements from the parties

“The First Circuit did not condone the Trump-Vance administration's censorship or issue any ruling on whether its actions are lawful." — Brooke Menschel, senior counsel at Democracy Forward A spokesperson for the Interior Department told Newsweek that the department has encouraged Americans to visit cultural and historic sites and engage in conversations about the moments that have shaped the country. The spokesperson added that telling the full story strengthens shared understanding and ensures future generations inherit the truth of the journey. Brooke Menschel stated that Democracy Forward was disappointed by the appeals court decision but viewed it as a temporary procedural setback. She said the organization remains committed to defending the integrity of national parks and ensuring they tell the full American story guided by history and the law.”