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The stories embedded in America’s historic places are facing a quiet crisis. Across the National Park System, exhibits are being removed, often without public explanation, that offer crucial context and allow visitors to connect with the past on a deeply human level. This isn’t simply an academic debate; it’s about how we, as a nation, choose to understand our history and, our present. Preserving these sites, and the full scope of the narratives they hold, is vital for fostering a more informed and empathetic citizenry.

The power of these places lies in their ability to move beyond dates and names and into the lived experiences of those who came before us. As one former National Park Service historian explained, these sites offer a unique opportunity to grapple with the complexities of the American story – the triumphs and the tragedies, the ideals and the contradictions. This ability to connect with the past is increasingly at risk, prompting concern among historians and advocates for historical preservation.

The Importance of Seeing Through the Eyes of the Past

The idea that history should be about more than just facts and figures was powerfully reinforced for me by Karl Weintraub, a University of Chicago professor whose classes were legendary. A letter I received from him in 1986, recently reread, underscored the importance of understanding the human element of history. He wrote of the demand to convey the “yearning and fear and achievement” of those who lived before us, urging students to see history not as a collection of events, but as the stories of real people.

Weintraub’s point, as I understood it, was that analysis alone isn’t enough. To truly understand the past, we must strive to see it through the eyes of those who lived it. What we have is precisely what National Historic Sites offer – a chance to stand on the ground where history unfolded and imagine the lives of those who shaped it. From the battlefields of Lexington to the incarceration camps of Manzanar, these places provide a tangible connection to the past.

A Fight for Historical Context in Philadelphia

This connection is now being challenged. In Philadelphia, a recent battle over exhibits at Independence National Historical Park highlighted the stakes. As reported, exhibits on the history of slavery at the President’s House were removed, prompting a legal challenge. U.S. District Judge Cynthia M. Rufe ultimately ordered the National Park Service to restore the exhibits, finding that their removal amounted to “dismantling objective historical truths.” The exhibit was restored this week.

Dwight Pitcaithley, a former Chief Historian at the National Park Service, articulated the power of this contextualization. He noted that experiencing the living quarters of enslaved people at Independence National Historical Park, just before encountering the Liberty Bell, makes “the contradiction in the founding of the country between freedom and slavery” powerfully palpable. He argued that discussing the institution of slavery is essential to understanding the full historical context of the Liberty Bell, which was named by abolitionists in the 1830s and inscribed with words from Leviticus: “Proclaim Liberty thro’ all the Land to all the Inhabitants thereof.”

Imagine, Pitcaithley suggested, being able to understand the world through the eyes of an abolitionist newspaper editor, a Revolutionary War general, and an enslaved Virginian all in a single day. This is the potential of National Historic Sites – to foster empathy, understanding, and a more nuanced appreciation of the American experience.

Beyond Philadelphia: A National Trend

The situation in Philadelphia isn’t isolated. Across the country, concerns are growing about the removal of exhibits and the suppression of challenging historical narratives within the National Park System. These actions raise fundamental questions about whose stories are being told, and whose are being silenced. The ability to learn from the past, to confront uncomfortable truths, and to build a more just future depends on preserving these spaces as open and honest classrooms.

As Toni Morrison wrote in her essay collection, The Source of Self-Regard, human beings are “the moral inhabitants of the globe,” and our capacity for morality stems from our ability “to project, to develop into the other, to imagine her or him.” National Historic Sites provide a unique opportunity to cultivate this capacity, allowing us to step into the shoes of those who came before us and understand their experiences.

The responsibility for safeguarding these spaces falls to all Americans. It’s up to us to ensure that National Historic Sites remain places where we can confront the complexities of our past, learn from our mistakes, and strive for a more inclusive and equitable future. The ongoing debate over how we present our history is a critical one, and the outcome will shape our understanding of ourselves as a nation for generations to come.

What happens next will depend on continued public engagement and a commitment to preserving the integrity of these vital historical resources. Share your thoughts in the comments below and facilitate ensure these important stories are not lost.

The longevity of video games in a crowded market increasingly depends on cultivating a strong community, and Ghost Ship Publishing appears to have cracked the code with Deep Rock Galactic and its spin-offs. Alex Skronski, Head of Publishing and Marketing at Ghost Ship Publishing, recently discussed the company’s approach to community building, particularly in relation to events like the Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor – Ultimate Challenge Invitationals.

Rather than viewing the community as a mere resource, Skronski described it as a “dialogue.” “I don’t feel like [the community is] a resource, I feel like it’s a dialogue,” he stated. “And I honestly feel that because Deep Rock Galactic is built around the community. And so many players who love Deep Rock Galactic also love Survivor for what it is, for its own thing, for the greatness that is, for the great things that Survivor does.”

Skronski characterized Ghost Ship’s strategy as “elbow grease marketing” – a commitment to actively engaging with the community, listening to feedback, and incorporating that input into both game development and marketing efforts. This approach, according to Skronski, has demonstrably strengthened the bond between the company and its player base over several years.

The success of this strategy is evident in the continued engagement surrounding Deep Rock Galactic and its related titles. The company’s ability to organize and execute large-scale events, such as the Survivor invitationals, appears to be directly linked to this sustained community involvement. Further details on Ghost Ship Publishing’s approach to the evolving Deep Rock universe can be found in a recent interview with Skronski.