Submitted by Johann Neem

April 9, 2025

At a time when the Trump Administration is quickly altering public interpretations of history and removing references to the past on websites and public spaces, it is vital that historians keep track of what is changing. The Early Republic Tracker is dedicated to documenting instances where the federal government is removing facts and stories essential to the public’s understanding American history from public historical sites, museums, websites, and executive agencies.

Where/When did the changes take place?

• Apr. 7, 2025; Apr. 8, 2025 at NPS Underground Railroad website

What changed?

• Information about Tubman’s work on the Underground Railroad, including a quote from Tubman and when/how slavery is discussed.

Why does the change matter?

• The new page—which may since have been altered again—does not immediately mention slavery and then takes away mentions of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, according to news stories. Some of the pages have been restored according to CNN (see links below). This matters because Tubman was one of the leading conductors on the Underground Railroad and because it is essential that Americans understand both how the Underground Railroad worked and how federal legislation—such as the Fugitive Slave Act—authorized private agents to recapture people seeking freedom.

Website/location/document where change was made?

• https://www.nps.gov/subjects/undergroundrailroad/what-is-the-underground-railroad.htm

Evidence of change?

1. https://kevinmlevin.substack.com/p/national-park-service-restores-some
2. https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/07/us/harriet-tubman-underground-railroad-national-parks-service
3. https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2025/04/06/national-park-service-underground-railroad-history-slavery/
4. https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/06/us/national-parks-underground-railroad-harriet-tubman/index.html

Additional sources?

• Tiya Miles, Night Flyer: Harriet Tubman and the Faith Dreams of a Free People (2024)