The National Park Service (NPS) has not removed any flagged content from gift shop shelves or exhibits at Fort Moultrie, Fort Sumter, and the Charles Pinckney National Historic Site in Charleston, South Carolina, despite a September 17 deadline. This directive from the Trump administration aimed to identify materials that presented the United States in a negative light. The agency has remained silent on specific changes, citing ongoing review processes.
Key Takeaways
- Books and exhibits flagged for review at Charleston National Park sites remain unchanged.
- The National Park Service missed a September 17 deadline for content removal.
- The directive targeted materials that could be seen as disparaging against Americans or U.S. history.
- The NPS has not publicly confirmed which specific exhibits or signage were under review.
- A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for flagged content is expected to take months to fulfill.
Federal Directive on Historical Interpretation
The U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum issued an order for National Park staff to review all interpretive materials. This included signs, monuments, and exhibits. The goal was to identify content that might be deemed inappropriate or disparaging. The order specifically mentioned content that could put any American, living or deceased, in a negative light. This also applied to figures from colonial times.
This action followed a March executive order. The order was titled “Restoring Truth And Sanity To American History.” Park staff were required to report their findings by August 18. The deadline for removing identified content was then set for September 17.
Ongoing Review and Lack of Specifics
Despite the passing of the removal deadline, the National Park Service has provided no details. It has not confirmed what exhibits or signage, if any, were marked for removal. Local staff at Fort Moultrie and Fort Sumter directed all inquiries to the NPS communications office. This response highlights the agency's centralized control over information regarding the review process.
"Interpretive materials that focus solely on challenging aspects of U.S. history, without acknowledging broader context or national progress, may unintentionally provide an incomplete understanding rather than enrich it. The Department relies on existing laws, policies and subject-matter experts to guide these reviews. We are not commenting on individual materials at this time," NPS spokesperson Elizabeth Peace said in a statement.
This statement suggests that the review aims for a more balanced historical narrative. However, it does not clarify the specific criteria used for flagging content. It also does not explain why certain materials might be considered incomplete or disparaging.
Key Data Point
Ten book titles from gift shops were under review. These titles primarily focused on the slave trade and its consequences. Two of these were firsthand accounts from formerly enslaved people.
Books and Exhibits Remain on Display
As of September 19, 2025, ten book titles flagged for review were still available for purchase. These books were found in the gift shops of Fort Moultrie, Fort Sumter, and the Charles Pinckney National Historic Site. Among the titles were significant historical narratives such as "The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano" and "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" by Harriet A. Jacobs.
Exhibits and signs at all three sites that acknowledge their connections to slavery also remain unchanged. For example, inside the Charles Pinckney home, an exhibit titled "Remembering the People of Snee Farm" is still on display. This exhibit details the lives of enslaved laborers, both named and unnamed, who worked at the site.
Historical Context
Fort Moultrie played a role in the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. Fort Sumter is famous for being the site where the first shots of the Civil War were fired. The Charles Pinckney National Historic Site preserves the plantation home of a U.S. Founding Father who owned enslaved people. These sites hold significant historical importance, including their ties to slavery.
Public and Congressional Reactions
The review process has caused significant public debate. Historians, former park employees, and authors have expressed strong opposition. They view the administration's efforts as an attempt to remove what President Trump called "corrosive ideology" from the National Park Service's displays.
Reports from major news outlets highlighted specific concerns. The Washington Post first reported that "The Scourged Back," a Civil War-era photograph, was slated for removal from a national park. This photograph depicts the whip-scarred back of an enslaved man named Peter. The New York Times later identified the specific park as Fort Pulaski National Monument near Savannah.
U.S. Rep. James Clyburn, a Democrat from Columbia, also voiced his concerns. In a September 16 Facebook post, he criticized the administration's approach.
"The Trump administration is scrubbing signs and exhibits on slavery from national parks, labeling the information a ‘corrosive ideology,’” wrote Rep. Clyburn. “No, Mr. President. Learning about our country’s history of slavery is not a ‘corrosive ideology’ — the ideology justifying slavery was.”
A drawing of "The Scourged Back" photo is featured at the Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie Visitor’s Center in downtown Charleston. It is displayed next to a biography of Henry Laurens, a South Carolina merchant, slave trader, and Revolutionary War figure. This image was still on display as of September 19.
Delayed Information Access
The Post and Courier submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the National Park Service. This request sought the list of exhibits flagged for review at South Carolina’s six national historic sites. The agency acknowledged the request but stated it was "complex."
According to the NPS, complex requests require between 21 and 60 days to fulfill. The agency also noted that it has over 150 pending FOIA requests. The estimated date for providing the requested information is January 26, 2026. This delay means that public access to the specific details of the content review will not be available for several months.
For now, the exhibits and gift shop offerings at the Charleston national park sites appear to remain unchanged. The public awaits further clarification from the National Park Service regarding its review process and any future actions.
