Podcast Summary
Discovering Inaccuracies in Historical Markers Across America: NPR investigation found over 35,000 historical markers with inconsistencies, errors, lies, and even markers for dead animals and ghosts, revealing a lack of regulation and oversight in their creation and placement.
Historical markers across America tell a fractured and often distorted version of the country's history. NPR investigations correspondent Laura Sullivan discovered this while driving during the COVID-19 pandemic and questioning the accuracy and origins of these markers. With the help of NPR's Nick McMillan, they analyzed a crowdsourced database and found over 35,000 markers put up by various groups or individuals, some dating back to the late 1700s but gaining popularity in the early 20th century with the rise of cars and highways. They found inconsistencies, offensive lies, errors, and even markers for dead animals and ghosts. For example, three states claim to be the first to use anesthesia, and there's a marker in Texas for the first successful airplane flight by a man who wasn't one of the Wright brothers. The lack of regulation and oversight allows for a subjective and sometimes inaccurate portrayal of history.
Historical markers distort American history: Thousands of private-owned historical markers across the US perpetuate a distorted view of history, making it hard to ensure accuracy and accountability
Historical markers across the United States often tell a distorted or even false version of history due to the lack of a national repository and ownership by private groups. For instance, in Tuskegee, Alabama, a historical marker and statue of a Confederate soldier, owned by the United Daughters of the Confederacy, have been a source of controversy for many years. The marker, which reflects the fight to preserve slavery, is not seen as a fair message by the local community. Despite efforts to remove it, the marker remains due to its ownership by a private group. This issue is not unique to Tuskegee, as there are thousands of similar markers across the country that contribute to a distorted narrative of history. The lack of a national repository and the ownership of these markers by private groups make it difficult to ensure accuracy and accountability.
United Daughters of the Confederacy's Historical Markers: The United Daughters of the Confederacy, a heritage group, installed over 600 historical markers, often glorifying the Confederacy and containing inaccurate information. They continue to maintain these markers in unwelcome areas, despite not living there and not paying local taxes, for national visibility.
The United Daughters of the Confederacy, a heritage group, have installed over 600 historical markers across the country, more than any other Civil War heritage group. These markers often glorify the Confederacy and its soldiers, who fought to maintain slavery, and downplay the role of the Union and its soldiers. Many of these markers contain inaccurate information or outright fabrications. The United Daughters of the Confederacy, who primarily reside near their national headquarters in Richmond, Virginia, continue to maintain these markers in places where they are not welcome, such as Tuskegee, Alabama. The group's tax records show that they have amassed over $11,000,000 in wealth. Despite not living in the areas where these markers are located and not paying local taxes, they continue to assert their right to keep them. The markers provide the United Daughters of the Confederacy with lasting national visibility, even as their organization has declined.
Preserving a biased interpretation of history through markers and monuments: The United Daughters of the Confederacy have shaped public perception of history through biased markers and monuments for over a century. Changing the dominant narrative is an ongoing process, but new perspectives can challenge negative stereotypes and provide alternative historical accounts.
The narrative of history is not always objective, and those who control the telling of history can shape public perception. The United Daughters of the Confederacy have been preserving a racially biased interpretation of history through markers and monuments for over a century. This was highlighted when Bryan Stevenson, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, discovered the lack of markers acknowledging slavery in Montgomery, Alabama, in the 1980s. Stevenson's attempt to rectify this by working with the Alabama Historical Association to install markers about slavery was met with success, but changing the dominant narrative is an ongoing process. The importance of these markers lies in their ability to provide alternative perspectives and challenge the negative stereotypes perpetuated by the traditional telling of history. However, removing or changing old, problematic markers is a challenging task due to their age and ownership issues. Despite these challenges, efforts are being made to create new narratives and remind communities of their complex past.
Historical markers in the US overlook Native American history: Many historical markers contain biased or inaccurate info towards Native Americans, and recent laws prevent their removal. Only a fraction of markers acknowledge Native American history, perpetuating an incomplete understanding of US history.
Historical markers across the United States often present a biased perspective, particularly towards Native Americans. During our investigation, we discovered over 1000 markers in Minnesota, of which only 206 were accounted for by the state historical society. Upon inspection, many of these markers contained grammatical errors, offensive language, or inaccurate information. Moreover, recent laws in Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee prevent the removal of historical markers, regardless of their content. Theo Moore, from Montgomery, raised a valid concern about the lack of markers acknowledging Native American history and heritage. Our research revealed over 15,000 markers mentioning Native Americans, but the history portrayed was not theirs. In many instances, markers glorified white settlers while vilifying Native Americans. For example, in New Ulm, Minnesota, a marker in a 170-year-old cemetery referred to Native Americans as "Indians" and "massacred" them, a term that is objectionable due to its one-sided narrative. The nation's historical markers predominantly favor the perspective of white settlers, perpetuating an incomplete and biased understanding of American history.
Reclaiming Native American history through new signs: The Lower Sioux Indian community in Minnesota is replacing inadequate historical signs with new ones that provide a more accurate and inclusive account of their history, acknowledging their perspective and the complexities of their past.
The Lower Sioux Indian community in Minnesota is reclaiming their history by removing and replacing inadequate historical signs with new ones that tell their own story. The old signs, many of which described violent acts against Native Americans without acknowledging their perspective, were taken down and replaced with signs that provide a more accurate and inclusive account of history. For instance, a stone warehouse sign that only provided dimensions was replaced with one that acknowledged the warehouse's role in sparking the US Dakota Wars and the resulting hardships faced by the Dakota Nation. The new signs tell a more complete story of the tribe's history, including their formidable political and military strategy, the loss of their land, and the arrival of Europeans. The process of replacing the signs is ongoing, and each new sign adds another piece to the complex and nuanced story of the Lower Sioux Indian community.
Historical markers tell stories from different perspectives: Acknowledge and include indigenous narratives alongside settler stories for balanced and inclusive historical understanding
Historical markers tell stories from different perspectives, and it's essential to acknowledge and include the narratives of indigenous peoples alongside those of settlers. The text discusses the contrasting narratives of the Dakota Wars in Minnesota, where signs honor pioneers' victories but overlook the experiences and losses of the indigenous population. Darla Gebhardt, a historian, acknowledges the importance of both narratives and the need for inclusive storytelling. As she states, "What if people only see one sign? What if people want the old signs because they just like the old stories better?" It's crucial to recognize that historical markers have been used to entertain travelers and have become a sort of "history book for the nation," but they can also perpetuate hate and biased narratives. To create a more balanced and inclusive understanding of history, it's necessary to acknowledge and learn from the experiences of all communities involved.
Historical markers reveal hidden stories: Historical markers can uncover forgotten events and shed new light on the past, while industries like video games can surprise us with their economic impact.
Historical markers can uncover hidden stories and secrets from the past. A prime example of this is a historical marker in Alabama along a dusty two-lane highway outside Gadsden. Sixty-one years ago, a teenager named Jerry Smith spotted a strange man walking along the road with a sign and a wagon. Smith, who was initially wary of the man due to the racial tensions of the time, later felt troubled when the man was murdered just a few hours later. The discovery of a new historical marker at the scene of the crime brought attention to the long-forgotten incident and shed light on the events that unfolded. Similarly, in the world of business, industries like video games, which are often dismissed as mere hobbies, are now major economic forces, worth more than the film and music industries combined. These examples show that there is often more to the surface than meets the eye, whether it's in history or business.
Man's persistence leads to recognition of forgotten civil rights activist's death: A local man's determination to uncover the truth about a civil rights activist's assassination in the 1950s led to the installation of a historical marker, sparking renewed interest in the case and shedding light on a long-forgotten story.
The actions of Smith, a local man, led to the recognition of a historical event that had long been forgotten in a small Alabama town. William Moore, a civil rights activist, was assassinated during a one-man protest march in the 1950s. For years, Smith was haunted by the silence surrounding Moore's death and the suspicion that a local man named Floyd Simpson was involved. Despite initial resistance, Smith persisted in advocating for a historical marker to commemorate Moore's life and death. The marker's installation sparked renewed interest in the case, and many in the town now believe that Simpson, who was a known member of the Ku Klux Klan, was responsible for the murder. Although Simpson is deceased, the investigation into his potential involvement was revisited, revealing strong evidence that could have led to his indictment. The installation of the marker brought Moore's story out of the shadows and into public history.
Markers as windows into American history: Historical markers provide valuable insights into the nation's history, preserving stories and moments that have shaped the country, despite the evolution of perspectives and the ongoing conversation about the past.
Historical markers serve as reminders of both the best and worst aspects of American history. While they aim to preserve moments in time, history continues to evolve, and perspectives on the past can change. Despite this, markers remain valuable windows into the nation's history, providing insight into various events and stories that have shaped the country. The story of William Moore, a former slave, is an example of how a marker can bring a hidden piece of history to light and become a part of the American narrative. While some markers may be controversial or inaccurate, they all contribute to the ongoing conversation about the past and the role of memory in shaping our understanding of history.
