Righting history doesn’t happen overnight. The sign commemorating Battle Rock City Park was eventually changed through the tireless efforts of citizens determined to preserve the memory of the ancient people who lived in the area before the first settlers. This scholarly paper by Linda Nading provides an in-depth exploration of the topic.

Battle Rock Sign — photo by Linda L. Nading

Battle Rock Sign — photo by Linda L. Nading

A photo of the original sign when the park was known as Battle Rock State Park, 1968.

The previous sign when it was still called Battle Rock State Park, 1968.

Photographer unknown.

A better view of the old sign when it was changed to “Battle Rock City Park” —

Battle Rock Wayside sign c1970s

Battle Rock Wayside sign c1970s

Here are two photos of the sign before and after the change – both taken during the rare event of snowfall on the coast:

The original Battle Rock signage before the word "City" was added.

The original Battle Rock signage before the word “City” was added, 1990. (Photo credit: Alan Mitchell)

The Battle Rock City Park sign,

The new Battle Rock City Park sign. (Photo credit: Alan Mitchell)