The Department of the Interior’s efforts to revise unfavorable stories about American history at National Park Service sites appears to be backfiring — instead of reporting incidents of “negative” history as directed by new signs, visitors have used the signs’ QR codes to submit hundreds of comments in support of the park service.

In a 65-page leaked document provided to SFGATE by the National Parks Conservation Association, the hundreds of comments that have poured in through June 16 show overwhelming support for better funding for national parks and increased protection of public lands.

“This felonious Administration is the very definition of un-American. The parks belong to us, the people. ... Respectfully, GO **** YOURSELVES” reads one comment that has been reported through multiple parks and is directed to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.

“Rangers, have a lovely day. You are appreciated,” the commenter added at the end.

“This park is perfect. Please tell Trump to go **** himself,” reads a similar comment posted through Keweenaw National Historical Park in Michigan.

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At the Stonewall National Monument in New York, where the Interior Department came under fire earlier this year for removing mentions of transgender people from the park’s website, visitors have left several comments bashing the new initiative.

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“I’ve noticed there aren’t nearly enough signs about how a tyrannical government is trying to white wash history,” read one comment.

“Taking the T and Q (Transgender and Queer) out of the way the park tells the history of Stonewall is inaccurate and incomplete. Fix this!” read another.

Many park service sites received comments about the need to increase the visibility of Indigenous cultures, including Rocky Mountain National Park, Pinnacles National Park, National Park of American Samoa and many others.

“The National Parks, as the Department of the Interior states, belong to Americans, all Americans. This means sharing the history, experiences, and stories of all the people who’ve called the United States home, even if it’s perceived as a ‘dark’ or ‘negative’ time in our history,” reads a comment left at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan. The signs “should incorporate truthful history, whether it’s positive or not,” the comment continued. 

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“The Trump administration is trying to erase and rewrite history. But that’s not what the American people want,” Theresa Pierno, president and CEO of the National Parks Conservation Association, said in an emailed statement accompanying the shared documents. “Park visitors are asking for more inclusive storytelling, especially signage that honors Tribal histories and voices. And we couldn’t agree more. Our national parks should reflect the full complexity of the land, its beauty, its past, and the people who have shaped it for generations.”

The leaked comments included overwhelmingly positive stories about interactions with rangers and the occasional quip about a dirty bathroom or closed trailhead, but were primarily protest comments aimed at the Interior Department initiative.

The only major point of contention in the comments collected so far comes from Civil War battlefield sites. There’s a notable split, with some visitors leaving complaints about perceived racist monuments and requests for the inclusion of more stories about African Americans, and others reporting that plaques are too critical of Confederate history.

“The vast majority of public comments show what we’ve always known: people love their national parks and deeply value the dedicated staff who protect them every day,” Pierno said. “It’s clear this administration is completely out of step with the American people when it comes to safeguarding these treasured places and the stories they tell.”

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