In moments of national crisis, it’s natural to feel pulled toward the most visible front lines—immigration raids, climate rollbacks, attacks on reproductive rights. The Trump administration’s threats to democratic norms and human dignity are so broad and urgent that preservationists may feel unsure where we fit in or worry that our work is too niche to matter now. But we do have a role to play—and it’s critical. Our nation’s memory is under siege, and those of us who protect the past must now step forward as defenders of truth.
Preservation is not just about buildings or places. It’s about stories—who gets remembered, who gets erased, and what future generations come to believe about who we are. The Trump administration’s embrace of “patriotic education,” its removal of federal guidance on inclusive interpretation, and its celebration of Confederate symbols are not harmless gestures. They are strategic acts of historical distortion meant to consolidate power and suppress the narratives of Indigenous people, Black Americans, immigrants, and other communities whose stories disrupt a myth of American greatness rooted in white supremacy.
This is where preservation professionals come in. We don’t need to stop caring about other justice issues, but we can give ourselves permission to focus our energy where we are most effective. We are uniquely positioned to challenge the administration’s attempts to whitewash history. By protecting endangered places tied to underrepresented communities, insisting on full and accurate interpretation in public spaces, and defending laws like the National Historic Preservation Act and the Antiquities Act, we act not just as preservationists, but as patriots.
Focusing on history doesn’t mean turning away from the fight for justice—it is the fight. Preserving the true story of all Americans is a radical act in this political climate. The stories we save, the policies we defend, and the public memory we shape will either help shore up authoritarianism or hold the line for democracy. As preservationists, we have both the tools and the responsibility to ensure that the truth survives. Let’s give ourselves—and each other—permission to lead.
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