National Parks Traveler Podcast | Don't Erase History So Fast

National Parks Traveler Podcast | Don't Erase History So Fast

Author: Kurt Repanshek June 14, 2026 Duration: 47:07

It was a little more than a year ago when Interior Secretary Doug Burgum asked  the public to help him identify interpretive materials in the National Park System that disparaged Americans past or living or which contained content that detracts from viewpoints of scenic grandeur.

Well, it appears that the public didn't share his concerns.

Recent Freedom of Information Act requests have turned up nearly 36,000 comments in response to Secretary Burgum's mission "to restore Federal sites dedicated to history, including parks and museums, to solemn and uplifting public monuments that remind Americans of our extraordinary heritage, consistent progress toward becoming a more perfect Union, and unmatched record of advancing liberty, prosperity, and human flourishing."

The folks at the Center for Western Priorities recently filtered through the nearly 36,000 comments that were received by Interior, and found that just 47 – that's right, only 47 comments – called for a sign to be removed or supported Burgum's request to tidy up history. Our guests today are Kate Groetzinger and Lilly Bock-Brownstein from the Center for Western Priorities, and they'll explain how they filtered those comments and what they found.


There's a world of stories waiting beyond the park entrance sign, and the National Parks Traveler Podcast is your audio guide to them. Led by Kurt Repanshek, this series goes deeper than trail maps and visitor statistics. It connects the natural wonder you experience firsthand with the crucial, often unseen work happening behind the scenes-the science informing conservation, the cultural histories embedded in the landscape, and the policy decisions that will shape these places for future generations. As the audio companion to the editorially independent nonprofit media organization, this podcast delivers a thoughtful blend of on-the-ground reports, interviews with researchers and park staff, and nuanced discussions about the challenges and triumphs in managing protected areas. You'll hear the sounds of the parks and the voices of the people dedicated to them. Each episode is an invitation to better understand the complex tapestry of ecology, history, and society that makes every national park far more than a scenic destination. Tune in for a regular dose of insight that will deepen your appreciation and perhaps even shape your next journey into America's most treasured public lands.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

National Parks Traveler Podcast
Podcast Episodes
National Parks Traveler Podcast | See You In the Parks! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:31
For 21 years, the National Parks Traveler has taken you around the National Park System and kept you informed on how the National Park Service and Congress have managed your national parks. We've gone underground to desc…
National Parks Traveler Podcast | Wilderness Lost [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:18
Across the United States, from Alaska to Puerto Rico, there are about 112 million acres of officially designated wilderness. That amounts to about 5 percent of the country's land mass. It might appear to be even smaller…
National Parks Traveler Podcast | ESA's Future [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:23
Since this past December here at the Traveler we've been bringing you a series of stories on the Endangered Species Act and the threatened and endangered species it's intended to keep from going extinct. For me, it's bee…
National Parks Traveler Podcast | Rethinking Public Lands Stewardship [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:06
Public lands stewardship has most definitely changed under the second presidential administration of Donald Trump. Land-management agencies such as the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, and Bureau of Land Manag…
National Parks Traveler Podcast | Cook Inlet's Beluga Whales [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:36
A fast-track proposal to develop a gold mine near Alaska's Cook Inlet and Lake Clark National Park and Preserve is alarming scientists, environmental groups and local communities because of the devastating effects it is…
National Parks Traveler Podcast | Print Ain't Dead [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:20
We're living in somewhat tumultuous times in the print media industry. Well-familiar titles are either disappearing, shrinking drastically, or shifting over to the internet. On top of that, the advent of Artificial Intel…
National Parks Traveler Podcast | Chief Storyteller [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:46
National parks provide us with so many services, from providing us with inspiration, allowing us to leave our stress behind for a few hours or a few days, offering a recreational outlet, and enabling us to pursue hobbies…
National Parks Traveler Podcast | Wildlife Crossings [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:57
Across the United States, there are many thousands of collisions between vehicles and wildlife each year, killing people and animals and causing millions of dollars in property damages. Some solutions revolve around crea…
National Parks Traveler Podcast | Polluting Parks With Light [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:35
You might not entirely appreciate the wonders and majesty of national parks unless you venture out after dark and gaze up at what often is referred to as the other half of the national park system. The view can be quite…