Our National Treasures are at Risk · National Parks Conservation Association

Cultural resources—such as indigenous sites, Civil War battlefields, and fossil-rich landscapes—are not just relics of the past. They are the foundation of our national identity and connect us to the stories that shaped who we are today. Yet these places are increasingly threatened by a myriad of forces: climate change, urban development, vandalism, improper storage and accounting, and the pressure of rising visitor numbers, which NPCA’s ‘Cultural Resource Challenge’ report. points out.

With insufficient protection and funding to properly care for these places, we risk losing parts of our shared American history forever.

But we’ve saved national treasures before, and we can do it again.

Jimi Shaughnessy in Scotland

The author working at the Gateway to the Atlantic Archeology field school in Scotland, 2013.

Courtesy of Jimi Shaughnessy

I am a veteran who served as a Marine in the Iraq War and has since earned a college degree in anthropology and archaeology. Ever since I was a child, I have loved museums and artifacts. I signed up for military service at the age of 17, and just before entering bootcamp I learned that the National Museum of Iraq in Baghdad had been looted. In one of the worst cases of cultural vandalism in recent history, thousands of ancient artifacts were removed and the building destroyed. I was confused and angry. As a young Marine who wanted to emulate the movie character Indiana Jones and protect ancient relics, I wondered how this could happen. I and many other Marines took seriously our duty to help the people of Iraq and promote a sense of democracy. Losing this priceless cultural history seemed to magnify the enormous human suffering already taking place.

The shock and disbelief that such a treasure trove of human history could be left vulnerable resonated deeply with many of us. The fog of war did not allow me to fully understand the extent of the violation at the time. It wasn’t just the loss of thousands of priceless artifacts; it was the attack on our collective human heritage, as Iraq is home to the world’s first known civilizations.

Opinions about the Iraq War were divided from its beginning and remain divided today. What struck me then, and still stands out today, was how quickly the US and international communities responded to that cultural catastrophe. Military and diplomatic efforts were quickly mobilized to mitigate the damage and protect what remained – sort of Programs for monuments, art and archives during World War II, when soldiers were tasked with protecting Europe’s cultural treasures from destruction. The MFAA tracked, located and returned more than five million looted cultural objects. Since the looting of the Baghdad Museum, many of the looted treasures have been returnedabout 15,000 artifacts.

I soon realized that when it came to protecting our shared history, we could respond with urgency, commitment and responsibility. It gave me hope. But today, as I reflect on the cultural resource challenges we face domestically—especially in our national parks and public lands—I find myself questioning whether we still carry that same sense of responsibility.

Here at home, we also risk losing irreplaceable parts of our history and culture. Not by looting, but by one quieter, more systemic threat. Instead of war, they are guilty of neglect, underfunding and lack of public awareness. These threats may not make the headlines, but they are still dangerous and eroding our cultural heritage bit by bit.

Veterans, who have already dedicated themselves to serving our nation, could find a renewed sense of purpose in the conservation field. With support from the Post 9/11 GI Bill, I continued my degree and have since worked on archaeological digs in Scotland, Staten Island and New York City. Yet many others with a second calling to preserve and protect cultural and historic resources cannot pursue similar careers because of the severe understaffing of the National Park Service and the limited job opportunities.

Since 2016, NPCA’s Veterans Program has created meaningful experiences and connections to our national parks for veterans, active duty, reservists and military families. We respect them for their service to the country and consider them valuable partners and advocates to help advance NPCA’s park conservation campaigns. Through our community organizing and strategic outreach, we are growing our strong network of dedicated, trusted and passionate veterans equipped to help protect our national parks.

The Park Service is staffed with approximately 450 cultural resources, primarily due to a lack of funding to pay for these critical roles. Nonprofit organizations have stepped in to provide training to veterans in the sensitive work of conservation, but without career opportunities within the Park Service, many veterans are forced to move on to different career fields or roles that are only related to their passion.

Later legislation, such as Get rewarding outdoor work for our Veterans Act (GROW) Act and that MVP Actwhich seeks to improve veterans’ access to the outdoors, shows there is a growing appetite in Congress to support veterans and their families with conservation careers.

These bills are a step in the right direction, but they alone are not enough.

If we are truly committed to preserving our heritage and creating meaningful opportunities for veterans, we must address the root issue: funding. The National Park Service is tasked with protecting more than 430 park sites, all of which interpret, manage and preserve our nation’s history, including the great natural landscapes like Yellowstone or the Grand Canyon. Yet the agency’s budget has remained unchanged for years. Meanwhile, visitor numbers have skyrocketed, straining already limited resources even more. The GROW Act and the MVP Act may help illuminate the plight facing our parks, but they are only part of a larger conversation about the future of cultural resource management in America.

We also risk losing irreplaceable parts of our history and culture. Instead of war, they are guilty of neglect, underfunding and lack of public awareness.

In the case of the Baghdad Museum, our response was swift and decisive because we recognized the cultural value at stake. On our home front, the threat is thankfully not a war and is not a sudden crisis – but rather a slow, ongoing erosion. We can’t wait until it’s too late. We need a proactive, collective effort involving not only government agencies, but the public as well, to protect these invaluable resources before they are lost. Advocacy, education, and meaningful policy change are critical steps to ensure that we not only respond to a crisis, but also prevent one from occurring in the first place.

Just as we served our country in uniform, veterans can now serve it by protecting the cultural treasures that define who we are as a people. These places are not just landmarks on a map – they are living reminders of the stories, struggles and triumphs that have shaped our nation.

Let’s ensure that future generations can walk the ground in our national parks, visit ancestral places of origin and learn from the battlefields of the past. Our shared history deserves nothing less.

Celebrating Veterans Day

The National Park Service encourages all visitors to remember our nation’s veterans by visiting any National Park Service website for free on November 11. Many national parks have direct connections to the U.S. military, including battlefields, military parks, and historic sites that celebrate and honor the service of U.S. veterans.

If you want more information about Veterans Program at NPCAemail Jshaughnessy@npca.org

The intersection of the U.S. military, Native Americans, and artifact collecting is a multifaceted issue that reflects the complex history of government policies, military actions, and Native cultures. This relationship has often led to troubling cases where the collection and management of Native American artifacts have overlooked the rightful stewardship and cultural significance these objects hold for their communities. Such practices have historically infringed on the rights and traditions of Native American peoples, highlighting the need for respectful and informed policies that honor their heritage and autonomy.