Published on April 23, 2025
This presidential proclamation establishes National Park Week for April 19-27, 2025, emphasizing American patriotism and historical heritage through the national park system. The proclamation highlights the administration's actions to rename parks, create the National Garden of American Heroes, and promote specific educational initiatives about American history, while using the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord as a focal point.
Behind the seemingly benign celebration of national parks lies a calculated attempt to reshape historical narrative and national identity. The emphasis on "American greatness" and specific historical interpretations, coupled with the administration's control over educational initiatives and monument creation, suggests an effort to centralize cultural messaging and historical interpretation under executive authority. The timing of this proclamation, coinciding with America's 250th anniversary preparations, appears designed to leverage patriotic sentiment for political purposes while establishing government-approved versions of historical events.
While ostensibly celebrating America's natural and historical heritage, this proclamation serves as a vehicle for implementing broader cultural and educational control mechanisms. The public should remain aware that what appears as simple park celebration actually represents a sophisticated attempt to influence national narrative and identity formation through carefully controlled historical interpretation and monument creation.
By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation During National Park Week, we celebrate the majestic beauty and rich history preserved within our national parks. The week’s events will begin with a commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the opening battles of the American Revolutionary War at Minute Man National Historical Park in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. There, ceremonies and tactical demonstrations will recall the bravery of the patriots who stood their ground against tyranny and launched a movement that secured the blessing of freedom and forever changed the course of history. As President, I have taken action to restore names to our parks that honor American greatness — including returning Mount McKinley to its rightful name. I was also proud to announce the creation of the National Garden of American Heroes — a new monument honoring 250 American patriots who embodied the virtues of courage, love of country, and devotion to our Nation’s highest ideals. My Administration is promoting education that teaches our children to love our country and honor our history, including through the work of the White House Task Force on Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday. Our national parks are magnificent sources of inspiration, education, and recreation — representing our customs and culture. In 1872, Yellowstone National Park was established as the world’s first-ever national park, commencing a proud American tradition that has led to the designation of more than 400 park sites of national significance. From prehistoric dwellings and architectural masterpieces to historic battlefields where our forefathers fought for independence, our national parks draw hundreds of millions of visitors each year. This National Park Week, we renew our pledge to cherish and protect our magnificent symbols of American greatness, and we vow to ensure that they remain breathtaking for our children and grandchildren. NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 19 through April 27, 2025, as National Park Week. I encourage all Americans to celebrate our national parks by learning more about the natural and historical heritage that belongs to each and every citizen of the United States of America. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-third day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth. DONALD J. TRUMP