[106th Congress Public Law 146]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
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[DOCID: f:publ146.106]
[[Page 1713]]
THOMAS COLE NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE ACT
[[Page 113 STAT. 1714]]
Public Law 106-146
106th Congress
An Act
To establish <<NOTE: Dec. 9, 1999 - [H.R. 658]>> the Thomas Cole
National Historic Site in the State of New York as an affiliated area of
the National Park System.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress <<NOTE: Thomas Cole National
Historic Site Act. 16 USC 461 note.>> assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Thomas Cole
National Historic Site Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
Sec. 3. Findings and purposes.
Sec. 4. Establishment of Thomas Cole National Historic Site.
Sec. 5. Retention of ownership and management of historic site by Greene
County Historical Society.
Sec. 6. Administration of historic site.
Sec. 7. Authorization of appropriations.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this Act:
(1) The term ``historic site'' means the Thomas Cole
National Historic Site established by section 4 of this Act.
(2) The term ``Hudson River artists'' means artists who were
associated with the Hudson River school of landscape painting.
(3) The term ``plan'' means the general management plan
developed pursuant to section 6(d).
(4) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the
Interior.
(5) The term ``Society'' means the Greene County Historical
Society of Greene County, New York, which owns the Thomas Cole
home, studio, and other property comprising the historic site.
SEC. 3. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) The Hudson River school of landscape painting was
inspired by Thomas Cole and was characterized by a group of 19th
century landscape artists who recorded and celebrated the
landscape and wilderness of America, particularly in the Hudson
River Valley region in the State of New York.
(2) Thomas Cole is recognized as America's most prominent
landscape and allegorical painter of the mid-19th century.
(3) Located in Greene County, New York, the Thomas Cole
House, also known as Thomas Cole's Cedar Grove, is
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listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been
designated as a National Historic Landmark.
(4) Within a 15 mile radius of the Thomas Cole House, an
area that forms a key part of the rich cultural and natural
heritage of the Hudson River Valley region, significant
landscapes and scenes painted by Thomas Cole and other Hudson
River artists, such as Frederic Church, survive intact.
(5) The State of New York has established the Hudson River
Valley Greenway to promote the preservation, public use, and
enjoyment of the natural and cultural resources of the Hudson
River Valley region.
(6) Establishment of the Thomas Cole National Historic Site
will provide opportunities for the illustration and
interpretation of cultural themes of the heritage of the United
States and unique opportunities for education, public use, and
enjoyment.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
(1) to preserve and interpret the home and studio of Thomas
Cole for the benefit, inspiration, and education of the people
of the United States;
(2) to help maintain the integrity of the setting in the
Hudson River Valley region that inspired artistic expression;
(3) to coordinate the interpretive, preservation, and
recreational efforts of Federal, State, and other entities in
the Hudson Valley region in order to enhance opportunities for
education, public use, and enjoyment; and
(4) to broaden understanding of the Hudson River Valley
region and its role in American history and culture.
SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF THOMAS COLE NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE.
(a) Establishment.--There is established, as an affiliated area of
the National Park System, the Thomas Cole National Historic Site in the
State of New York.
(b) Description.--The historic site shall consist of the home and
studio of Thomas Cole, comprising approximately 3.4 acres, located at
218 Spring Street, in the village of Catskill, New York, as generally
depicted on the boundary map numbered TCH/80002, and dated March 1992.
SEC. 5. RETENTION OF OWNERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT OF HISTORIC SITE BY GREENE
COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
The Greene County Historical Society of Greene County, New York,
shall continue to own, administer, manage, and operate the historic
site.
SEC. 6. ADMINISTRATION OF HISTORIC SITE.
(a) Applicability of National Park System Laws.--The historic site
shall be administered in a manner consistent with this Act and all laws
generally applicable to units of the National Park System, including the
Act of August 25, 1916 (16 U.S.C. 1 et seq.; commonly known as the
National Park Service Organic Act), and the Act of August 21, 1935 (16
U.S.C. 461 et seq.; commonly known as the Historic Sites, Buildings, and
Antiquities Act).
(b) Cooperative Agreements.--
(1) Assistance to society.--The Secretary may enter into
cooperative agreements with the Society to preserve the Thomas
Cole House and other structures in the historic site and to
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assist with education programs and research and interpretation
of the Thomas Cole House and associated landscapes.
(2) Other assistance.--To further the purposes of this Act,
the Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with the
State of New York, the Society, the Thomas Cole Foundation, and
other public and private entities to facilitate public
understanding and enjoyment of the lives and works of the Hudson
River artists through the provision of assistance to develop,
present, and fund art exhibits, resident artist programs, and
other appropriate activities related to the preservation,
interpretation, and use of the historic site.
(c) Artifacts and Property.--The Secretary may acquire personal
property associated with, and appropriate for, the interpretation of the
historic site.
(d) General <<NOTE: Deadline.>> Management Plan.--Within two
complete fiscal years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary shall develop a general management plan for the historic site
with the cooperation of the Society. Upon the completion of the plan,
the Secretary shall provide a copy of the plan to the Committee on
Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on
Resources of the House of Representatives. The plan shall include
recommendations for regional wayside exhibits, to be carried out through
cooperative agreements with the State of New York and other public and
private entities. The plan shall be prepared in accordance with section
12(b) of Public Law 91-383 (16 U.S.C. 1a-1 et seq.; commonly known as
the National Park System General Authorities Act).
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary
to carry out this Act.
Approved December 9, 1999.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 658 (S. 140):
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HOUSE REPORTS: No. 106-138 (Comm. on Resources).
SENATE REPORTS: No. 106-89 accompanying S. 140 (Comm. on Energy and
Natural Resources).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 145 (1999):
Sept. 13, considered and passed House.
Nov. 19, considered and passed Senate.
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