'Rewriting history': Experts say Trump order for national parks is 'frightening'

A leaked memo shows a Donald Trump appointee has instructed the National Parks Service (NPS) to invite visitors to report anything they believe portrays American history or geography in a negative light.

NPR obtained the June 9 memo sent National Park Service comptroller Jessica Bowron instructing regional directors to post signage to encourage public feedback through QR codes or other methods to report any material or display that "inappropriately disparages Americans past or living and instead focuses on the greatness of the achievements and progress of the American people, as ordered by the president.

"The instructions come in response to President Trump's March 'Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History' executive order and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum's follow-up order last month requesting its implementation," NPR reported. "Trump's original order included a clause ordering Burgum to remove content from sites."

Bowron's memo sets a mid-July deadline to ensure all public-facing images, descriptions and other materials that might be disparaging.

"An example image of a sign leaked to NPR for Wilson's Creek National Battlefield in Missouri, the site of the second major battle of the Civil War, ahead of its potential installation, asks visitors to identify 'any signs or other information that are negative about either past or living Americans or that fail to emphasize the beauty, grandeur, and abundance of landscapes and other natural features,'" NPR reported.

The directive applies to other Department of the Interior bureaus, as well, including Land Management, Indian Affairs and the Fish and Wildlife Service.

"This order reaffirms the NPS mission by emphasizing the importance of accuracy in how we tell stories of American history," NPS spokesperson Rachel Pawlitz said in a statement. "Our visitors come to national parks to celebrate the beauty, abundance, and grandeur of America's landscapes and extraordinary multicultural heritage. This allows them to personally connect with these special places, free of any partisan ideology."

But experts are alarmed by the order and its chilling effect on historical accuracy.But others have voiced concern about these developments.

"It's pretty dangerous when you start rewriting history," said Theresa Pierno, CEO and president of the independent National Parks Conservation Association. " It's so important that we learn from our history. To think that that could be erased or changed because visitors might prefer that story not be told — or not be told accurately — is frightening."