Former park rangers teach Black history after Trump administration cancels Harpers Ferry exhibit
By
Marissa J. Lang
Summary
Former National Park Ranger Elizabeth Kerwin spent years building an exhibit at Harpers Ferry National Historic Park to honor hundreds of enslaved people connected to the site, timed for the U.S. 250th anniversary in 2026. The Trump administration canceled the exhibit as part of broader efforts to remove Black history from federal lands. In response, Kerwin and other former park rangers are now hosting independent teach-ins and community education sessions to share this history outside of government channels, ensuring the stories of enslaved people are not erased from the national narrative.
Source
Twitter / XFormer park rangers teach Black history after Trump administration cancels Harpers Ferry exhibitnpr.orgKey quotes
· 3 pulledThe summer of 2026 was going to be a triumphant debut for former National Park Ranger Elizabeth Kerwin.
Kerwin had spent years building a wall of remembrance to highlight hundreds of enslaved people with ties to this historic site.
Instead, the old stone building that was set to house Kerwin's exhibit sits empty after the Trump administration canceled the project.
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