Biden removes William Penn statue from Pennsylvania historic park in 'inclusive' makeover to showcase more Native American history
The Biden administration's National Park Service is starting a “rehabilitation process” for a Pennsylvania park that will include the removal of a statue of William Penn and the inclusion of representation from Native American tribes.
The Deb Haaland-led park service sent out the request for input on the changes to Welcome Park Friday on their website and in a post on X.
Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania in 1681, was infamous for his friendly relations with the region's native tribes. The park was founded 300 years later.
The park itself is named after the ship that Penn sailed to America and features a museum dedicated to celebrating the life and contributions of William Penn.
However, the park service says it wants to “provide visitors with a more welcoming, accurate and inclusive experience.”
The National Park Service is starting a 'rehabilitation process' for a Pennsylvania park that will include the removal of a statue of William Penn and the inclusion of representation from Native American tribes
That means, according to the idea question, an 'extensive interpretation of Philadelphia's Native American history.'
They said the proposal was developed in collaboration with members of the Haudenosaunee, the Delaware Nation, the Delaware Tribe of Indians, the Shawnee Tribe and the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma.
Public feedback has been requested the NPS website starts Monday and runs until January 21.
However, many on social media have already given more than their two cents on the decision.
One asked, “How about we stop spending taxpayer money on the US Park Service?”
“I say a bigger statue of William Penn. You guys are unreal,” wrote another.
The proposal also includes a planted buffer on three sides of the park, a gathering area and new circular benches.
It comes amid a recent effort to rethink statues erected for heroes from different eras of American history.
The Biden administration's parks department sent the request for input on the Welcome Park Friday changes on their website and in a post on
Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania in 1681, was infamous for his friendly relations with the region's native tribes. The park was founded 300 years later
Many on social media have already given more than their negative two cents about the decision
A Confederate appeasement monument will be removed from Arlington National Cemetery, ignoring a recent demand from more than 40 Republican members of Congress to prevent the Pentagon from moving forward.
Security fencing has been installed around the monument and officials expect to complete the removal by Dec. 22, Arlington National Cemetery said in an email.
During the removal, the surrounding landscape, graves and headstones will be protected, Arlington National Cemetery said.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin disagrees with the decision and plans to move the monument to New Market Battlefield State Historical Park in the Shenandoah Valley, Youngkin spokeswoman Macaulay Porter said.
In 2022, an independent commission recommended removing the monument as part of its final report to Congress on the renaming of military bases and properties that commemorate the Confederacy.
In 2020, Congress mandated that the Department of Defense remove by 2024 all “names, symbols, displays, monuments, and paraphernalia honoring or commemorating the Confederate States of America.”
Meanwhile, bureaucrats in New York have said money must be found to remove statues of America's founding fathers despite a $12 billion migrant crisis that will “destroy” New York City, the mayor has been told.
A Confederate appeasement monument will be removed from Arlington National Cemetery, ignoring a recent demand from more than 40 Republican members of Congress to stop the Pentagon
The city's Cultural Affairs Committee has demanded the expulsion of George Washington, Christopher Columbus and others from public spaces over ties to slavery, along with the creation of a reparations task force.
The plans presented to the City Council on Tuesday come after Mayor Eric Adams warned that New Yorkers face a “financial tsunami” because of the costs of caring for more than 10,000 new migrants every month.
But they have sparked anger as the city scrambles for resources, while libraries, senior meals and childcare are all now in jeopardy.