Volunteers Unveil 10,000-Strong Archive of National Park Signs and Monuments

"Save Our Signs" Preservation Project Launches Archive of 10,000 National Park Signs A publicly-sourced archive of over 10,000 national park signs and monument placards has been launched as part of a massive volunteer project to save historical and educational placards from around the country. The archive, which is available online, contains submissions from more than 300 sites across the United States, including iconic landmarks such as Alcatraz Island and the African American Civil War Memorial. The "Save Our Signs" preservation project was initiated in response to concerns that the Trump administration's rewriting of park history could lead to the removal or alteration of existing signs. Volunteers from around the country took photos of signs at national parks and public monuments, submitting them to the archive for safekeeping. "I'm so excited to share this collaborative photo collection with the public," said Jenny McBurney, Government Publications Librarian at the University of California, Berkeley, who is involved in the project. "As librarians, our goal is to preserve the knowledge and stories told in these signs. We want to put the signs back in the people's hands." The archive includes a wide range of historical and educational content, including photos from Alcatraz Island, stories from the African American Civil War Memorial, and accounts from the Brown v. Board of Education National History Park. According to McBurney, the project is not just about preserving physical signs, but also about preserving the cultural heritage and history that they represent. "These signs are more than just informational plaques," she said. "They tell stories about the people who built our country, the struggles they faced, and the triumphs they achieved." The launch of the archive comes at a time when there is growing concern around the world about the preservation of cultural heritage sites and historical artifacts. In 2019, UNESCO reported that over 40% of the world's cultural heritage sites were under threat from conflict, climate change, and other human activities. "This project highlights the importance of preserving our collective history and cultural heritage," said Dr. Maria Dolorosa Beleza, a historian at the University of Lisbon who has studied the preservation of cultural artifacts. "It shows that even in the face of adversity, people can come together to preserve their shared heritage." The archive is available online for anyone to access and explore. The project's organizers hope that it will serve as a model for other communities around the world looking to preserve their own cultural heritage. As the project continues to grow and evolve, its organizers are already planning for future developments. "We're just getting started," said McBurney. "We want to continue to build on this momentum and make sure that these signs are preserved for generations to come." *Reporting by Tech.*