The Smithsonian Institution is the planet’s largest museum, education, and research complex. As a result, it has become ground zero in an intense war on the nation’s history. Founded 178 years ago, the institution encompasses 21 museums, mostly located along the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Known for its diverse exhibits, including a Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton and the first image of a black hole, it has enjoyed longstanding bipartisan support. Recent executive orders from former President Donald Trump have sparked controversy, accusing the Smithsonian of rewriting history on race and gender issues.
In 1846, President James Polk put his name on the legislation that created the Smithsonian Institution. This monumental move finally occurred 17 years after the death of James Smithson. Over the course of its storied history, the institution has repeatedly withstood the weight of those crises. Until this week, it had never been targeted directly by the executive branch. The executive order mandates the removal of “improper, divisive, or anti-American ideology” from its museums and has led to the closure of its diversity office, following Trump’s ban on DEI programs in federally funded organizations.
David Blight, a prominent historian, expressed his concerns, stating:
“There have been plenty of other executive orders but this is a frontal assault.” – David Blight
The Smithsonian’s often criticized exhibits come under fire for their depiction of race and gender. Opponents argue that these monuments revise history to create new regimes of power. One exhibit in particular proposing that civilizations, including the United States, have historically used race as a basis for developing these systems faced heavy backlash. Lonnie Bunch, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, voiced his opposition to the executive order:
“What’s most appalling about this is the arrogance, or worse, the audacity to assume that the executive branch of government, the presidency, can simply dictate to American historians writ large the nature of doing history and its content.” – Lonnie Bunch
Tope Folarin emphasized the importance of truth in fostering unity:
“You cannot ‘foster unity’ by refusing to tell the truth about our history. Ignorance of the truth is what actually deepens societal divides.” – Tope Folarin
Even in the face of these challenges, the Smithsonian Institution is still shining as a light of education and research. It was instrumental in the success of the Event Horizon Telescope project. It was this project that produced the first-ever image of a black hole in 2019. This milestone showcases the institution’s dedication to pushing forward the boundaries of science and exploration.
“What is written in that order sounds almost Orwellian in the way Trump thinks he can mandate a mythic conception of American history that’s almost Disney-esque with only happy endings, only heroic figures, no attention at all to the complexity of American history and the struggles to have a more perfect union.” – Raymond Arsenault
The debate over historical narratives raises questions about governmental influence on educational institutions. Many stakeholders view this as an opportunity to reconsider the narrative that has been woven through our history. To some, it’s a blow to academic freedom. To others, it’s an overstep. Historian Samuel Redman likened the situation to a crisis:
The debate over historical narratives raises questions about governmental influence on educational institutions. While some see this as an opportunity to reassess historical portrayals, others view it as an infringement on academic freedom. Historian Samuel Redman likened the situation to a crisis:
“It is a five-alarm fire for public history, science and education in America.” – Samuel Redman