A debate is growing in Massachusetts over how American history should be told after two historical films were removed from public viewing at the Lowell National Historical Park.

The films documented the lives of mill workers, including women and immigrants, who helped build the city of Lowell during the Industrial Revolution.

One film described how factories were “noisy and unhealthy,” with workers exposed to dangerous conditions, but also highlighted Lowell’s transformation into a diverse city shaped by generations of newcomers.

Robert Forrant, a history professor at UMass Lowell and Lowell resident, said removing the films risks leaving out key parts of the city’s identity.

He told NBC10 Boston the city’s early history is deeply tied to immigration and women entering the workforce and that telling the story, “warts and all,” is essential to preserving the truth about how Lowell developed.

“Having those stories available to people when they come to visit the park or they go online and look at the material in the park is critically important,” Forrant said.

State Rep. Tara Hong, whose district includes Lowell, is now pushing our federal lawmakers to restore the films, sending a letter to U.S. Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren and U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan, all Massachusetts Democrats, earlier this month.

“I don’t see anything wrong in [the films]. [They] just showed the beautification of our city of Lowell,” he said. “It’s a story that really resonates with many of us here in the city of Lowell.”

Hong is an immigrant himself, having moved to the United States from Cambodia in 2013.

The controversy comes as the U.S. Department of the Interior implements Secretary’s Order 3431, a directive stemming from the administration of President Donald Trump that calls for federal agencies to review historical content to ensure it aligns with what the order describes as accurate and shared national values.

The order has also prompted a federal lawsuit and preliminary injunction filing from preservation and environmental groups, who argue the policy could lead to the removal or alteration of historical materials at national parks across the country.

Markey has criticized the films getting taken down in Lowell, even posting one of them to his YouTube page.

“If we don’t learn from history, we are bound to repeat it, and that’s why I’ve put the video up,” Markey said. “I now have tens of thousands of views because people care about history.”

In a statement to NBC10 Boston, the National Park Service said the films were flagged for review as part of the federal directive, but emphasized that being flagged does not mean the material will be changed or removed permanently.

The agency said staff were asked to identify items that might warrant clarification, and that in most cases across the national park system, materials identified for review remain unchanged.

The debate comes at a symbolic moment for the city, just weeks after Lowell marked its 200th birthday back on March 1.

Gerrit Cole throws and participates in drills in Tampa | Yankees Spring TrainingDuring a Yankees’ spring training workout, ace Gerrit Cole threw, ran and participated in drills, as teammates also got defensive work in. Aaron Judge, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Austin Wells, Max Fried, Jose Caballero, David Bednar and Paul Goldschmidt also warmed up and got loose for the day.

BOSTON (AP) — Lukas Reichel had a goal and an assist in his Boston debut, Jeremy Swayman made 22 saves and the Bruins beat the Winnipeg Jets 6-1 on Thursday night to end a two-game losing streak.

David Pastrnak scored his 27th goal of the season and had an assist. Viktor Arvidsson and Pavel Vacha also each had a goal and assist, and Fraser Minten and Jonathan Aspirot added late goals.

Fighting for one of the final Eastern Conference playoff spots, the Bruins finished in regulation for only the second time in seven games. They were coming off overtime losses at New Jersey on Monday night and Montreal on Tuesday night.

Jonathan Toews ended Swayman’s shutout bid on a tip-in at 5:38 of the third. Connor Hellebuyck stopped 22 shots for Winnipeg.

Reichel came to Boston from Vancouver at the trade deadline and was recalled from Providence of the American Hockey League on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old German winger Reichel made it 2-0 at 6:23 of the second period. Hellebuyck misplayed the puck behind the net on a wraparound, inadvertently knocking it out front for Reichel to swat in.

Pastrnak opened the scoring with 5:08 left in the first. He got the puck back off his own rebound, moved to the front and fired in a wrister.

Arvidsson knocked in a backhander off a scramble with 1:44 remaining in the second, and Zacha scored at 3:15 of the third.

After Toews put Winnipeg on the board, Minten had a tip-in with 4:08 left and Aspirot capped the scoring with 1:42 to go.

The Jets opened a three-game trip after an eight-game homestand.

Jets: At Pittsburgh on Saturday.

Bruins: At Detroit on Saturday night.