Smithsonian museum's exhibit labels George Washington "town destroyer" amid debate over historical portrayal

The National Museum of the American Indian in Manhattan displays a portrait of George Washington accompanied by a label that reads "town destroyer," referencing a Haudenosaunee term for Washington and U.S. presidents. The panel notes that American forces destroyed 40 Iroquois towns and burned harvests, but it does not provide details about the raids on American settlements that preceded the campaign or Washington's rationale for ordering the attack.

The museum’s "Native New York" exhibit emphasizes the destruction suffered by Native communities while offering limited context about the broader conflict. A National Park Service excerpt cited in the exhibit explains that raids by Indigenous groups and Loyalists in 1778 crippled the Continental Army, yet this perspective receives less prominence.

The presentation occurs as the Trump administration reviews Smithsonian exhibits, alleging that the institution portrays American history in an overly negative light. The administration has warned of potential funding changes if exhibits are deemed historically inaccurate or divisive.

Critics note that other displays similarly focus on the violence inflicted on Native peoples while downplaying Native actions. For example, a placard recounts an Iroquois woman's view that peace ended when "white men" began their revolution, and a video claims an American soldier killed Lenape chief White Eyes, though the cause of his death remains disputed.

The museum also offers educational materials for middle schools that frame the American Revolution as a disruptive project and describe colonists as trespassers. A museum store nearby features books with critical interpretations of U.S. history, including titles that argue the nation was founded on white supremacy and genocide.

The Smithsonian declined to comment on the exhibit when contacted for comment.