COLUMN: Illinois is Central to our Work to Tell America’s Story

By Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and National Park Service Director Chuck Sams& As the first Native American cabinet secretary and leader of the National Park Service, we know all too well that the stories of underrepresented and historically marginalized communities have often gone untold. When they are told, efforts to elevate these stories – and include the voices of those who lived through them – have traditionally been underfunded and under-resourced.& & The Biden-Harris administration has been focused on ensuring that national parks and historic landmarks are places not just for visiting, but for learning, inspiration and healing — living classrooms that teach us about resilience, diversity and the enduring spirit of America. We are matching our words with action, and nowhere is that more pronounced than in Illinois.& & In August, President Joe Biden established the Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument as America’s newest national park site. The national monument will preserve historic objects associated with the violent, racially motivated riot in President Abraham Lincoln’s hometown that served as a catalyst for important steps in the civil rights movement, including the formation of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).& The designation is...