National Park Service reinstates Harriet Tubman's Underground Railroad webpage, once removed, following public outcry.
Title: Harriet Tubman's Presence Restored on Underground Railroad Page Following Backlash over Omission
In a recent turn of events, the National Park Service (NPS) has reinstated an image of Harriet Tubman and her renowned quote on the Underground Railroad webpage, following a public outcry over her diminished presence1. The controversy gradually surfaced when the large image of Tubman, the railroad's most iconic "conductor", was swapped for small commemorative stamps, and her quote was removed, as shown in a screenshot from March 19, 20212.
Initially, the top of the webpage emphasized Tubman's key role in the clandestine network of slaves seeking freedom, with her quote describing her experiences2. However, this assertive display was replaced sometime in February, with the alterations going unauthorized by top NPS leadership2.
The Washington Post initially reported the change on March 21, 2021, leading to a wave of disapproval from historians and educators1. Expressing their concerns, some criticized the revisions for minimizing Tubman's invaluable contributions to the Underground Railroad1.
Addressing the issue, an NPS spokesperson confirmed, "Changes to the Underground Railroad page on the National Park Service's website were made without approval from our leadership"2. The revised version, sans Tubman's quote and image, had been live since at least February 21, 20212.
The recent edit of Tubman's presence on the webpage, coinciding with several other alterations to government websites under the ongoing anti-DEI initiative, incurred strong criticism for diminishing Tubman's vital influence on the Underground Railroad1.
Harriet Tubman, the celebrated abolitionist, played a pivotal role in helping countless enslaved people during the Civil War period1. Fergus Bordewich, one such historian, deemed the edits as "both offensive and absurd"1.
Notably, before the page was reverted in the afternoon of March 22, 2021, an NPS spokesperson defended the changes2. Stressing the agency's commitment to historical narratives, the spokesperson highlighted the two national historical parks named for Tubman2.
"The National Park Service recognizes Harriet Tubman as the Underground Railroad's best known conductor and we celebrate her as a deeply spiritual woman who lived her ideals and dedicated her life to freedom," the NPS' response affirmed2.
Interestingly, there exists a separate NPS webpage dedicated uniquely to Tubman, who was born into slavery in Maryland before bravely escaping to Philadelphia1. She made daring returns to Maryland more than a dozen times to guide other slaves to freedom through the 'Underground Railroad,' a secret network of routes and safe houses1. Remarkably, the park service webpage on Tubman appears to have remained unaltered since January 28, 20251.
- Despite the controversy surrounding the Underground Railroad webpage's alterations, the National Park Service (NPS) confirmed that Harriet Tubman's quote was swapped for small commemorative stamps, and her image was lowered in significance, which sparked dissent among historians and educators who exemplified her contributions to the Underground Railroad as 'bold' and 'absurd' to omit.
- In addition to her renowned role as a conductor on the Underground Railroad, Harriet Tubman was also a celebrated abolitionist who played a pivotal part in helping countless enslaved individuals during the Civil War period.
- The NPS, following backlash over Harriet Tubman's diminished presence on the Underground Railroad webpage, reinstated her image and quote, but interestingly, the park service webpage dedicated solely to Tubman, detailing her life from birth into slavery in Maryland to her daring escapes and returns to guide other slaves to freedom, appears to have remained unaltered since January 28, 2025.
