The National Park Service has reinstated original content on its Harriet Tubman and Underground Railroad webpage following public outcry over unapproved changes that appeared to downplay key elements of American history.
According to NPS spokeswoman Rachel Pawlitz, the recent edits were made “without approval from NPS leadership nor Department leadership” and were swiftly reversed once discovered. “The webpage was immediately restored to its original content,” Pawlitz confirmed in a statement on Monday evening.
The modifications, first reported by The Washington Post, included removing Tubman’s image from the top of the page and significant textual changes. Archived versions of the site, accessed via the Wayback Machine, revealed that language referring directly to slavery and resistance was softened or omitted altogether.
One notable change involved the page’s introductory sentence. The original version framed the Underground Railroad as central to “the resistance to enslavement through escape and flight.” The revised version recharacterized it as “one of the most significant expressions of the American civil rights movement,” focusing on its unifying aspects across race, religion, and geography.
The controversy emerged amid broader federal efforts to review or roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, particularly following directives from former President Donald Trump. As part of that effort, Trump has reportedly called for a reassessment of content within federally funded institutions, including the Smithsonian museums. Vice President JD Vance has been tapped to oversee the administration’s initiative to revise historical narratives that Trump critics say reflect “improper ideology.”
While NPS officials initially downplayed the significance of the changes, they have maintained that there was no intention to obscure Tubman’s legacy or the harsh realities of slavery in the U.S.
“We celebrate her as a deeply spiritual woman who lived her ideals and dedicated her life to freedom,” said Pawlitz, pointing to the agency’s broader educational efforts, which include multiple dedicated pages and two national parks honoring Tubman.
Nonetheless, the incident drew swift criticism from historians and civil rights advocates. Bernice King, daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., voiced concern on Instagram, calling the edits “an attack on truth” and “a refusal to be uncomfortable,” emphasizing the importance of preserving honest historical accounts to promote societal progress.