I
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 658
To establish the Thomas Cole National Historic Site in the State of New
York as an affiliated area of the National Park System.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 9, 1999
Mr. SWEENEY introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Resources
A BILL
To establish 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 Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress 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 man-
agement 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 char-
acterized by a group of 19th century landscape art-
ists 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 listed on the National Register of
Historic Places and has been designated as a Na-
tional 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 pres-
ervation, 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 illus-
tration and interpretation of cultural themes of the
heritage of the United States and unique opportuni-
ties for education, public use, and enjoyment.
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are—
(1) to preserve and interpret the home and stu-
dio 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 ar-
tistic expression;
(3) to coordinate the interpretive, preservation,
and recreational efforts of Federal, State, and other
entities in the Hudson Valley region in order to en-
hance 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 HIS-
TORIC SITE.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established, as an af-
filiated 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 approxi-
mately 3.4 acres, located at 218 Spring Street, in the vil-
lage 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 HISTORI-
CAL SOCIETY.
The Greene County Historical Society of Greene
County, New York, shall continue to own, 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 by the So-
ciety 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 So-
ciety to preserve the Thomas Cole House and other
structures in the historic site and to assist with edu-
cation programs and research and interpretation of
the Thomas Cole House and associated landscapes.
(2) OTHER ASSISTANCE.—To further the pur-
poses of this Act, the Secretary may enter into coop-
erative agreements with the State of New York, the
Society, the Thomas Cole Foundation, and other
public and private entities to facilitate public under-
standing 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 ac-
tivities 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 MANAGEMENT PLAN.—Within two
complete fiscal years after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary shall develop a general manage-
ment 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 En-
ergy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Com-
mittee 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 Gen-
eral Authorities Act).
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums
as are necessary to carry out this Act.
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