Every park tells a story. Some of those stories are written on trail signs and interpretive panels. Some of them have been removed. And some of them have never been told at all.
Our Story is a new series from The Parks Podcast that goes deeper — into the people, places, and events that shaped our public lands and our collective history. Rangers, historians, scientists, and community members join me to explore the stories that deserve more than a paragraph on a placard.
In our first full episode, I’m sitting down with historian John Garrison Marks to talk about The President’s House in Philadelphia — an exhibit that was removed by executive order in January 2026. It’s the kind of story that makes you feel something. That’s exactly the point.
This is Our Story.
Episode Transcript
Our Story: An Introduction
The Parks Podcast, Episode 00 | Missy Rentz
Welcome to Our Story, a new series from The Parks Podcast. I’m your host, Missy Rentz.
I’ve shared that I came to the parks for nature, but I’m really drawn to the history and the stories that make up our parks. It may be one person whose actions led to the creation or expansion of the park, or maybe a unique or endangered animal that calls the park home. Maybe it’s a pivotal event that marks our history in unique and meaningful ways. These people, places, and events make up our collective story. In these episodes, I’ll take a deeper dive into some of those stories. I’m working with rangers, historians, and scientists who protect and preserve our public lands.
In our first episode, I’m getting to know more about The President’s House. John Garrison Marks — a historian and author — joins me to learn more about George Washington and the nine humans he enslaved in Philadelphia as President of the United States. This also happens to be an exhibit that was removed by an executive order from our current administration. That executive order mandates the removal of content considered to, quote unquote, inappropriately disparage American history.
Removing these stories does not mean they didn’t happen. Rather, it’s time to own our story — the good, the bad, and the ugly. I hope to show up to every conversation humbly, with great curiosity and vulnerability. I hope to learn the things I don’t know and to feel all of the emotions that come with exploring our past. I invite you to participate in the journey. Maybe you choose to explore some of the topics we discuss further, or if you have topic ideas, send them my way.
The landscapes of our nation hold the echoes of every footprint ever laid upon them, weaving together the diverse lives and pivotal moments that shaped our common ground. From the visionaries who protected these spaces to the many cultures that have always called them home, our parks are a living tapestry of who we were and who we are becoming. This is Our Story.
Music for The Parks Podcast is performed and produced by Porter Hardy. Follow us @TheParksPodcast or visit TheParksPodcast.com.