I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 437
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of Coltsville 
in the State of Connecticut for potential inclusion in the National Park 
System. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 29, 2003
Mr. LARSON of Connecticut (for himself, Ms. DELAURO, and Mr. SHAYS) in-
troduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Re-
sources 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study 
of Coltsville in the State of Connecticut for potential 
inclusion in the National Park System.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Coltsville Study Act 
of 2003’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds that—
(1) Hartford, Connecticut, home to Colt Manu-
facturing Company (referred to in this Act as
‘‘Colt’’), played a major role in the Industrial Revo-
lution; 
(2) Samuel Colt, founder of Colt, and his wife, 
Elizabeth Colt, inspired Coltsville, a community in 
the State of Connecticut that flourished during the 
Industrial Revolution and included Victorian man-
sions, an open green area, botanical gardens, and a 
deer park; 
(3) the residence of Samuel and Elizabeth Colt 
in Hartford, Connecticut, known as ‘‘Armsmear’’, is 
a national historic landmark, and the distinctive Colt 
factory is a prominent feature of the Hartford, Con-
necticut, skyline; 
(4) the Colt legacy is not only about firearms, 
but also about industrial innovation and the develop-
ment of technology that would change the way of life 
in the United States, including—
(A) the development of telegraph tech-
nology; and 
(B) advancements in jet engine technology 
by Francis Pratt and Amos Whitney, who 
served as apprentices at Colt; 
(5) the influence of Colt extended beyond the 
United States when Samuel Colt was the first resi-
dent of the United States to open a manufacturing 
plant overseas; 
(6) Coltsville—
(A) set the standard for excellence during 
the Industrial Revolution; and 
(B) continues to prove significant—
(i) as a place in which people of the 
United States can learn about that impor-
tant period in history; and 
(ii) by reason of the close proximity of 
Coltsville to the Mark Twain House, Trin-
ity College, Old North Cemetery, and 
many 
historic 
homesteads 
and 
architecturally renowned buildings; 
(7) in 1998, the National Park Service con-
ducted a special resource reconnaissance study of 
the Connecticut River Valley to evaluate the signifi-
cance of precision manufacturing sites; and 
(8) the report on the study stated that—
(A) no other region of the United States 
contains an equal concentration of resources re-
lating to the precision manufacturing theme 
that began with firearms production;
(B) properties relating to precision manu-
facturing encompass more than merely fac-
tories; and 
(C) further study, which should be under-
taken, may recommend inclusion of churches 
and other social institutions. 
SEC. 3. STUDY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than three years after 
the date on which funds are made available to carry out 
this Act, the Secretary of the Interior (referred to in this 
Act as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall complete a study of the site 
in the State of Connecticut commonly known as 
‘‘Coltsville’’ to evaluate—
(1) the national significance of the site and sur-
rounding area; 
(2) the suitability and feasibility of designating 
the site and surrounding area as a unit of the Na-
tional Park System; and 
(3) the importance of the site to the history of 
precision manufacturing. 
(b) APPLICABLE LAW.—The study required under 
subsection (a) shall be conducted in accordance with Pub-
lic Law 91–383 (16 U.S.C. 1a–1 et seq.).
SEC. 4. REPORT. 
Not later than 30 days after the date on which the 
study under section 3(a) is completed, the Secretary shall 
submit to the Committee on Resources of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Nat-
ural Resources of the Senate a report that describes—
(1) the findings of the study; and 
(2) any conclusions and recommendations of the 
Secretary. 
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums 
as are necessary to carry out this Act.
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