John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 1hsos-sandbox.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/sos-public-v...sos-sandbox.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.comSave Our Signs image viewerThe People's Archive of National Park Signs. Photographs of signs at National Park Service (NPS) sites were taken by volunteers and submitted to the Save Our Signs project. 030
John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 1hOther than "Save Our Signs" and this Inquirer article, I'm not sure of a resource that elegantly shows the former exhibit. Also please assign them my Atlantic article from July! (and ps happy to talk about this more) www.inquirer.com/news/philade... www.theatlantic.com/culture/2026...inquirer.comWhat’s changed at the President’s House with the Trump administration’s new exhibitHistorians have criticized the panels for minimizing the brutality of slavery and whitewashing George Washington’s culpability in the institution. 120
John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 20hDo your find it surprising that there are more than 21k history orgs in the U.S.? Or that 80% of nonprofit history institutions are run by volunteers? Or that a third of all history orgs are operated as part of government? If so, come join me for a webinar in a couple weeks. 072
John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 21hYeah that’s what I was thinking. And I noticed that in your initial screenshot, 2 houses roughly same size but one is $700k more expensive. 100
John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 29/09/2026I want analysis of the sale price here! is this adding value in some way?? But also yes, it kind of feels like “was part of the UGRR“ is no different from “chef’s kitchen!” in these listings 210
John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 29/09/2026I know this kind of thing is serious or whatever but god do I want to meet the person who thinks “ya know, I was gonna vote for a Democrat but then I heard what Christopher Lloyd said about Black Lives Matter.” 0100
Reposted by John Garrison MarksClint Smith @clintsmithiii.bsky.social · 29/09/2026Very excited to share the cover of my new book JUST BENEATH THE SOIL: WORLD WAR II THROUGH THE EYES OF ITS LAST WITNESSES. It will be out May 4, 2027. I learned so much writing this book and truly can't wait to share it with you all. It’s available for preorder now: sites.prh.com/justbeneatht... 727055
John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 29/09/2026When, I ask, will Democrats start getting the benefit of the doubt as the party of ball-knowers? 090
John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 29/09/2026This is extremely relevant to my interests. Please report back. 110
John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 29/09/2026I will never, ever forget that during the pandemic the government just direct deposited money into parents' checking accounts without anyone filing any extra paperwork. It cut child poverty in half. Then a year later Congress just let it expire. 0205
John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 29/09/2026I hear in other parts of the world they get 4 weeks paid time off from weird myths about founding heroes. 020
John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 29/09/2026I’m asking for just like, a couple days without some new, weird George Washington bullshit please 2203
John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 29/09/2026Congratulations to Kevin! He’s one of a handful of people who have been on roughly the same book schedule as me for the last few years. Excited to see this finally out in the world. 183
John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 29/09/2026Hey while they’re at it, IMLS and NEH should start offering unrestricted operating support for museums. Like, a lot of it. johngmarks.beehiiv.com/p/america-s-...johngmarks.beehiiv.comAmerica's Museums are Falling ApartWith 120241
John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 29/09/2026It’s possible people will read my writing, think they’re seeing God and then lose their minds and I’m just not willing to take that risk folks you’re welcome 060
John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 29/09/2026Historian John Marks will not be submitting his newest draft to his editor on time after an internal review revealed it did not meet safety standards. 1111
John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 28/09/2026Apparently the "Presidential Walk of Fame" AND the entire ballroom are also gonna get brought down to Miami. 040
John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 28/09/2026Will the front of this building have a big gold statue? Can't wait to find out. 130
John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 28/09/2026Don't ask me what I'm working on that demanded this, but I've watched the AI-generated video from the Donald Trump Presidential Library and Museum about 20 times today and I'm losing my grip on reality. www.trumplibrary.org 1101
John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 28/09/2026I saw him do a 10-minute set at a benefit gala in 2012 or 2013, and he was still doing Abu Ghraib and George W. Bush jokes. I genuinely thought that doing outdated jokes WAS the bit for a few minutes but no, just doing zero work in exchange for a check from a nonprofit. 010
Reposted by John Garrison MarksJohn Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 28/09/2026Describing the process of historical research as akin to detective work and emphasizing how it requires and builds transferable critical thinking skills is very effective at getting people to appreciate what history is and why it’s valuable. 1173
John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 28/09/2026Do I, personally, find an argument around critical thinking skills more convincing than an argument that knowing history is essential to participating in democracy? No. Do most people who haven't devoted their lives to doing history? Yes. Yes they do. 050
John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 28/09/2026For example, the "critical thinking" frame did more to get people to see not only why history is valuable, but to support greater public funding for museums and historic sites far better than "history reduces prejudice in society" and "history is essential for participating in democracy." 121
John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 28/09/2026Describing the process of historical research as akin to detective work and emphasizing how it requires and builds transferable critical thinking skills is very effective at getting people to appreciate what history is and why it’s valuable. 1173
John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 28/09/2026Thanks. I see so many people conflating “this is what I, a historian, find convincing” with “this is the only argument that will work and other ones dont feel as good to me” 100
John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 28/09/2026Lots of talk about how we should/shouldnt communicate with non-historians about history's value so let me just say: 1) There's actual, empirical research about this! aaslh.org/reframing-hi... 2) If you want me to be walked through it, I'm leading a workshop on Weds. learn.aaslh.org/products/str...learn.aaslh.orgAASLH Learning: Strengthening History Communication: Reframing the Value of History and Your Institution (September 2026) - Virtual Workshop 192
John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 27/09/2026Finally branching out from making uniforms for the opposing team briefly shown in a movie while the protagonists’ team goes on a run. 030
John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 25/09/2026That settles it then. I did keep thinking about comparisons to the hamburger during your talk! 010
John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 25/09/2026I wasn't going disrupt the whole event by asking this, but hearing about how the taco was connected to industrialization/mechanization, mining communities in need of quick, hand-held lunches, etc. all I wanted to ask was: is a taco a sandwich? 110
John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 25/09/2026Seeing this job interview discourse having experienced the academic job market I’m struck by how much iced coffee can’t even compete with questions like “Should anyone in the interview be on a hotel bed?” or “Should you be able to hear dozens of other job interviews during yours?” 8817
John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 25/09/2026A question about humans and machines came up and I’ll recommend again that everyone read Michael Pollan’s A WORLD APPEARS. Just a wonderful interdisciplinary book that weaves together so many disparate fields in service of an important question. 020
John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 25/09/2026One thing events like this always make clear is how incredibly valuable it is to read things you think of as totally unrelated to your usual scholarship and to just be curious and be in conversation with others who are as well. 1120
John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 25/09/2026He’s not on here but after hearing him talk about it, I really want to read Thomas Mullaney’s book. wwnorton.com/books/978132...wwnorton.comHow We DisappearA brilliant foray into the nature of information, of history, and of making meaning in the face of death and decay., How We Disappear, A Personal History of Information, Thomas S. Mullaney, 9781324020... 130
John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 25/09/2026As @sonyabonczek.bsky.social likes to say, despite all the changes in how we access information and culture, ideas still begin on the page. 230
John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 25/09/2026“For centuries, books have constructed the intellectual world that we inhabit.” A lovely day hearing about recent books from former Kluge scholars @dagomardegroot.bsky.social, @peterbrannen.bsky.social, @drsurekhadavies.bsky.social, @patrickmccray.bsky.social, @isanchezprado.bsky.social! 1111
John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 25/09/2026Today! Looking forward to learning from my fellow panelists and speaking with OAH members. 030
John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 25/09/2026An Intellectual Guide to Understanding Pete Hegseth by Chris Jennings 000
John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 25/09/2026I read END OF DAYS: Ruby Ridge, the Apocalypse, and the Unmaking of America by Chris Jennings this year and suddenly felt like I understood so much about our current politics a lot better. 291
John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 25/09/2026Lmao that’s great, very helpful context for my afternoon 000
John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 24/09/2026My answer to both is: ask for help. Archivists and librarians are there to help you! There’s no special award you get for figuring it out on your own. 040
John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 24/09/2026Almost ran out of time but I made it to The Valentine. Well worth it. 060
John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 24/09/2026But to be perfectly clear: VMHC is a really incredible museum and you should visit. AND there were 100+ people there including 25 or so students, and they all had great questions! It was a great event. I'm glad unhappy people is a rare enough event to warrant mention. 081
John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 24/09/2026For example, I got asked if I was a communist. And told the Jefferson/Sally Hemings thing had been "debunked" 2142
John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 24/09/2026Anyway, this talk is gonna be on C-SPAN sometime in the not-too-distant future, so you can see for yourself! 041
John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 24/09/2026I've done almost 20 book events this year, but it wasn't until I came to Richmond that people came up to me afterwards with, uh, "objections." 3202
John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 24/09/2026Really excellent exhibit about free Blaxk Virginians here at VMHC in Richmond. Not often that free Black people are the primary focus rather than an afterthought. 070
John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 24/09/2026How will Banksy have enough money left for space travel now? 041
John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 24/09/2026Yeah the whole experience is better by a long shot. 010