Signage Acknowledging Timbisha Shoshone Ordered Removed From Death Valley Exhibits


Just days after Death Valley National Park issued a press release celebrating the shared history and long-term relationship between the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe and Death Valley, the Trump administration has ordered the National Park Service to remove signage acknowledging the tribe from park exhibits.


The directive instructs the National Park Service to remove or revise interpretive signage that recognizes the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe’s historical and ongoing connection to the land within Death Valley National Park.  Secretary’s Order 3431 directs federal land management agencies to conduct comparable audits of all content made available to the public. The order applies to exhibits at locations including the Furnace Creek Visitor Center, where language acknowledging the tribe’s homeland and continued presence has been displayed for years.


The signage was developed through collaboration between the National Park Service and the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe and highlights the tribe’s ancestral ties to the region, predating the establishment of the national park. Some of the language targeted for removal includes statements emphasizing that the Timbisha Shoshone people remain present on their homeland today.


The timing of the order has drawn attention, coming immediately after Death Valley publicly highlighted its partnership with the tribe and recognized milestones such as the Timbisha Shoshone Homeland Act of 2000. That legislation formally acknowledged the tribe’s connection to the land and established a framework for cooperation between the tribe and the federal government.


According to federal officials, the signage removal is part of a broader review of interpretive materials across national parks.

By Jason Brown ~ I want to thank Jimmy T for bringing the awareness of this story so I could research and bring to our community. https://sierrawave.net/signage-acknowledging-timbisha-shoshone-ordered-removed-from-death-valley-exhibits/