Reconstruction Era National Historical Park in Beaufort County, South Carolina, was established in 2017 as the first unit of the National Park System dedicated to the Reconstruction era (1861–1900). The park preserves sites in and around Beaufort associated with the transition from slavery to freedom, including the Brick Baptist Church — where formerly enslaved people first learned to read — and the Darrah Hall at Penn Center, one of the first schools for freed African Americans in the South. The Sea Islands of South Carolina were among the earliest places where the federal government experimented with programs for formerly enslaved people, including land redistribution, education, and political participation. The park tells the stories of newly freed people who built schools, churches, and communities and exercised their rights as citizens during this transformative period.
📚 Learn More at NPSHistory.com →In the years following the Civil War, formerly enslaved people in the Sea Islands of South Carolina built some of the first free Black communities in America — establishing schools, churches, and local governments during the brief, transformative period known as Reconstruction.
Beaufort, South Carolina was home to Robert Smalls, a formerly enslaved man who commandeered a Confederate ship, delivered it to the Union Navy, and later served five terms in the U.S. Congress. The Penn School on St. Helena Island, established in 1862, was one of the first schools in the South for formerly enslaved people. Congress designated Reconstruction Era NHP in 2017 — the first national park dedicated to the Reconstruction period.
The administration has flagged for review content that includes the language: “might be in conflict with the intent of the SO, I am submitting for elevated review REER's Visitor Center Exhibit:”, and “The entire exhibit is being submitted for context, and potentially”. Officials deemed this language potentially “disparaging to certain visitors.”
Why this matters: Reconstruction Era NHP is the only national park dedicated to this pivotal period — when formerly enslaved Americans built communities, won elected office, and exercised rights that would be violently suppressed for nearly a century. Revising this story risks erasing one of the most consequential chapters in American democracy. Over 50,000 people visit this site each year.
In my personal opinion, the attached exhibit does not inappropriately disparage any American. However, since it has been recommended that any content that could potentially be perceived as “negative” might be in conflict with the intent of the SO, I am submitting for elevated review REER's Visitor Center Exhibit: “Lay of the Land.” The entire exhibit is being submitted for context, and potentially “negative” content is throughout. I'm also submitting waysides that are outside of the Visitor Center featuring this exhibit.
In the years following the Civil War, formerly enslaved people in the Sea Islands of South Carolina built some of the first free Black communities in America — establishing schools, churches, and local governments during the brief, transformative period known as Reconstruction.
Beaufort, South Carolina was home to Robert Smalls, a formerly enslaved man who commandeered a Confederate ship, delivered it to the Union Navy, and later served five terms in the U.S. Congress. The Penn School on St. Helena Island, established in 1862, was one of the first schools in the South for formerly enslaved people. Congress designated Reconstruction Era NHP in 2017 — the first national park dedicated to the Reconstruction period.
The flagged materials include content from “NPS land. I am also including waysides outside the building.”, targeted for review under the current directive.
Why this matters: Reconstruction Era NHP is the only national park dedicated to this pivotal period — when formerly enslaved Americans built communities, won elected office, and exercised rights that would be violently suppressed for nearly a century. Revising this story risks erasing one of the most consequential chapters in American democracy. Over 50,000 people visit this site each year.
While these exhibits are based in sound historical research, and I do not believe they inappropriately disparage anyone, I am requesting elevated review for conflict with SO 3431, as some of the content could be perceived as “negative.” I am attaching the Frontlines of Freedom exhibit, developed by NPS for use in our partner's facility on non-NPS land. I am also including waysides outside the building.
In the years following the Civil War, formerly enslaved people in the Sea Islands of South Carolina built some of the first free Black communities in America — establishing schools, churches, and local governments during the brief, transformative period known as Reconstruction.
Beaufort, South Carolina was home to Robert Smalls, a formerly enslaved man who commandeered a Confederate ship, delivered it to the Union Navy, and later served five terms in the U.S. Congress. The Penn School on St. Helena Island, established in 1862, was one of the first schools in the South for formerly enslaved people. Congress designated Reconstruction Era NHP in 2017 — the first national park dedicated to the Reconstruction period.
From the internal review records: “While these exhibits at Darrah Hall are based in sound historical research, and I do not believe they inappropriately disparage anyone, I am requesting elevated review for conflict with SO 3431, as some of the content could be perceived as "negative." I am also including waysides located outside of this property for elevated review.”
Why this matters: Reconstruction Era NHP is the only national park dedicated to this pivotal period — when formerly enslaved Americans built communities, won elected office, and exercised rights that would be violently suppressed for nearly a century. Revising this story risks erasing one of the most consequential chapters in American democracy. Over 50,000 people visit this site each year.
While these exhibits at Darrah Hall are based in sound historical research, and I do not believe they inappropriately disparage anyone, I am requesting elevated review for conflict with SO 3431, as some of the content could be perceived as “negative.” I am also including waysides located outside of this property for elevated review.
In the years following the Civil War, formerly enslaved people in the Sea Islands of South Carolina built some of the first free Black communities in America — establishing schools, churches, and local governments during the brief, transformative period known as Reconstruction.
Beaufort, South Carolina was home to Robert Smalls, a formerly enslaved man who commandeered a Confederate ship, delivered it to the Union Navy, and later served five terms in the U.S. Congress. The Penn School on St. Helena Island, established in 1862, was one of the first schools in the South for formerly enslaved people. Congress designated Reconstruction Era NHP in 2017 — the first national park dedicated to the Reconstruction period.
From the internal review records: “While these publications are based in sound historical research, and I do not believe they inappropriately disparage anyone, I am requesting elevated review for conflict with SO 3431, as some of the content could be perceived as "negative."”
Why this matters: Reconstruction Era NHP is the only national park dedicated to this pivotal period — when formerly enslaved Americans built communities, won elected office, and exercised rights that would be violently suppressed for nearly a century. Revising this story risks erasing one of the most consequential chapters in American democracy. Over 50,000 people visit this site each year.
While these publications are based in sound historical research, and I do not believe they inappropriately disparage anyone, I am requesting elevated review for conflict with SO 3431, as some of the content could be perceived as “negative.”
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