Why signs asking national parks visitors to report 鈥榥egative鈥� historic information are causing concern

In The NoCo

Why signs asking national parks visitors to report 鈥榥egative鈥� historic information are causing concern

By In The NoCo,

Erin O'Toole, Brad Turner

Published June 13, 2025 at 5:35 AM MDT

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A sign that says Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site with teepee poles leaning up against it sits on a field near a country road. The site is lit with a dusky sunset glow of late afternoon. — A sign marks the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site in Eads, Colorado. "Certainly you can go and find refuge and beauty, and I think that's very important," says Tracy Coppola with the National Parks Conservation Association. "But there is also a whole other part of the reason why we have National Parks, and that is to tell all stories and represent all people here."

Colorado has . And visitors may notice some striking new signs posted in the parks when they visit this summer.

The U.S. Department of the Interior, which oversees the National Park Service, is requiring the 鈥渁ny signs or other information that are negative about either past or living Americans.鈥�

The of many national park supporters, who fear it could lead to censoring less flattering parts of American history 鈥� especially at sites in Colorado that commemorate the or the that imprisoned Japanese Americans in World War II.

is Colorado senior program manager with the National Parks Conservation Association, a nonprofit that but is not part of the park service. She spoke with Erin O鈥橳oole about the impact this policy could have on visitors, as well as rangers and educators at the parks.

Tracy Coppola, a woman with dark hair, wearing a blue shirt with buttons and blue and silver earrings, smiles for this photo.

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In The NoCo National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA)National Parks History Sand Creek Massacre Amache National Historic Site

In The NoCo

皇冠网址's In The NoCo is a daily slice of stories, news, people and issues. It's a window to the communities along the Colorado Rocky Mountains. The show brings context and insight to the stories of the day, often elevating unheard voices in the process. And because life in Northern Colorado is a balance of work and play, we celebrate the lighter side of things here, too.

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Erin O'Toole

As the host of 皇冠网址鈥檚 new program and podcast In the NoCo, I work closely with our producers and reporters to bring context and diverse perspectives to the important issues of the day. Northern Colorado is such a diverse and growing region, brimming with history, culture, music, education, civic engagement, and amazing outdoor recreation. I love finding the stories and voices that reflect what makes NoCo such an extraordinary place to live.

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Brad Turner

Brad Turner is an executive producer in 皇冠网址's newsroom. He manages the podcast team that makes In The NoCo, which also airs weekdays in Morning Edition and All Things Considered. His work as a podcaster and journalist has appeared on NPR's Weekend Edition, NPR Music, the PBS Newshour, Colorado Public Radio, MTV Online, the Denver Post, Boulder's Daily Camera, and the Longmont Times-Call.

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