Changes to one of the most notable museums in the United States, the Smithsonian, has left numerous citizens fighting to protect various historical displays from erasure.

      The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History has, for decades, served as a grandiose display of American history and culture. It showcases the juxtaposing ideals of the country, with displays of patriotism and pride sitting next to those of pain, hardship, and brutality. Exhibits featuring heroism and innovation—Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 spacesuit, original lightbulbs made by Thomas Edison, and portraits of various influential historical figures—can be found in the same building as those depicting corruption and violence, such as photographs of Japanese internment camps during WWII. The history of the country is nuanced, and so are the displays at the Smithsonian.

      The Smithsonian is the world’s largest museum, and a monument of national history for the United States. With almost 17 million visits in 2024, it stands as one of the most notable museums in the country. The immense popularity of the museum stems from these displays; the diversity of artifacts and objective reflection of the nation’s history draws people in due to the variety of things it can teach visitors. However, as of March 2025, the museum began to prepare for massive changes. An executive order titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History” described a plan to remove many of these displays from the museums, accusing them of representing “improper ideology,” according to Newsweek. Today, America’s current administration continues in their promise to make these changes while others fight for preservation of the artwork.

      It receives the majority of its funding from the federal government, making this executive order all the more pressing for the institution. According to MSN, the Smithsonian receives around “62% of its funding from the federal government.” Consequently, if funding were to be removed as had been previously threatened by the Trump Administration, the museum would suffer immensely.

      An interview in an NPR article with Jim Grossman, the executive director of the American Historical Association, further emphasizes the public outcry resulting from a political atmosphere becoming progressively tense. In said interview, Grossman states her opinion on the executive order, claiming, “It misrepresents the work of the Smithsonian, which is one of the great research institutions in the world.” Many people, particularly historians, share this sentiment that erasing monumental artifacts reflects a distortion of American history. When asked about issues that may arise from this order, Holly Brewer, the Burke Professor of American History at the University of Maryland explains that it prevents important questions from being asked: “You’re not allowed to ask about how societies have used race to establish and maintain systems of power, privilege, and disenfranchisement…I don’t know how you can show American history without acknowledging some of that” (AP News).

      As plans for the implementation of this executive order proceed, more and more voices join the fight to maintain accurate representations of American history.

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