Rising sea levels have made repairs to the historic site necessary. Some would rather fight global warming.
The Trump administration has made headlines for removing signs in several national parks that reference climate change. One prominent removal occurred at Fort Sumter, the historic park in South Carolina where the opening shots of the Civil War were fired in 1861. The sign had detailed changes to the fort’s structure from rising sea levels.
The left has reacted as you would expect, interpreting the removals as an attack on science itself. But protecting sites like Fort Sumter shouldn’t hinge on a political battle over climate change. Americans may disagree on the topic, but they share an interest in preserving national parks and historic landmarks. Instead of virtue signaling about the signage, policymakers should focus on building the funding mechanisms and policies needed to help parks adapt to environmental challenges, whatever their cause.
We already know how to protect Fort Sumter. Exposure to saltwater has made repairs to its brick walls necessary. Its surrounding sea walls need reinforcement. The National Park Service estimates more than $100 million are needed for maintenance and repairs at Fort Sumter and the nearby Fort Moultrie complex, much of it tied to stabilizing historic structures.
Continue reading the entire piece here at The Wall Street Journal (paywall)
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Shawn Regan is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute. C. Jarrett Dieterle is a legal policy fellow for the Manhattan Institute.
