SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Cedar Creek and Belle
Grove National Historical Park Act’’.
SEC. 2. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Act is to establish the Cedar
Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park in order
to—
(1) help preserve, protect, and interpret a na-
tionally significant Civil War landscape and ante-
bellum plantation for the education, inspiration, and
benefit of present and future generations;
(2) tell the rich story of Shenandoah Valley his-
tory from early settlement through the Civil War
and beyond, and the Battle of Cedar Creek and its
significance in the conduct of the war in the Shen-
andoah Valley;
(3) preserve the significant historic, natural,
cultural, military, and scenic resources found in the
Cedar Creek Battlefield and Belle Grove Plantation
areas through partnerships with local landowners
and the community; and
(4) serve as a focal point to recognize and inter-
pret important events and geographic locations with-
in the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National His-
toric District representing key Civil War battles in
the Shenandoah Valley, including those battlefields
associated with the Thomas J. (Stonewall) Jackson
campaign of 1862 and the decisive campaigns of
1864.
SEC. 3. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The Battle of Cedar Creek, also known as
the battle of Belle Grove, was a major event of the
Civil War and the history of this country. It rep-
resented the end of the Civil War’s Shenandoah Val-
ley campaign of 1864 and contributed to the reelec-
tion of President Abraham Lincoln and the eventual
outcome of the war.
(2) 2,500 acres of the Cedar Creek Battlefield
and Belle Grove Plantation were designated a na-
tional historic landmark in 1969 because of their
ability to illustrate and interpret important eras and
events in the history of the United States. The
Cedar Creek Battlefield, Belle Grove Manor House,
the Heater House, and Harmony Hall (a National
Historic Landmark) are also listed on the Virginia
Landmarks Register.
(3) The Secretary of the Interior has approved
the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National His-
toric District Management Plan and the National
Park Service Special Resource Study, both of which
recognized Cedar Creek Battlefield as the most sig-
nificant Civil War resource within the historic dis-
trict. The management plan, which was developed
with extensive public participation over a 3-year pe-
riod and is administered by the Shenandoah Valley
Battlefields Foundation, recommends that Cedar
Creek Battlefield be established as a new unit of the
National Park System.
(4) The Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation,
organized in 1988 to preserve and interpret the
Cedar Creek Battlefield and the 1864 Valley Cam-
paign, has acquired 308 acres of land within the
boundaries of the National Historic Landmark. The
foundation annually hosts a major reenactment and
living history event on the Cedar Creek Battlefield.
(5) Belle Grove Plantation is a Historic Site of
the National Trust for Historic Preservation that oc-
cupies 383 acres within the National Historic Land-
mark. The Belle Grove Manor House was built by
Isaac Hite, a Revolutionary War patriot married to
the sister of President James Madison, who was a
frequent visitor at Belle Grove. President Thomas
Jefferson assisted with the design of the house. Dur-
ing the Civil War Belle Grove was at the center of
the decisive battle of Cedar Creek. Belle Grove is
managed locally by Belle Grove, Incorporated, and
has been open to the public since 1967. The house
has remained virtually unchanged since it was built
in 1797, offering visitors an experience of the life
and times of the people who lived there in the 18th
and 19th centuries.
(6) The panoramic views of the mountains, nat-
ural areas, and waterways provide visitors with an
inspiring setting of great natural beauty. The his-
toric, natural, cultural, military, and scenic re-
sources found in the Cedar Creek Battlefield and
Belle Grove Plantation areas are nationally and re-
gionally significant.
(7) The existing, independent, not-for-profit or-
ganizations dedicated to the protection and interpre-
tation of the resources described above provide the
foundation for public-private partnerships to further
the success of protecting, preserving, and inter-
preting these resources.
(8) None of these resources, sites, or stories of
the Shenandoah Valley are protected by or inter-
preted within the National Park System.
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’
means the Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National
Historical Park Advisory Commission established by
section 9.
(2) MAP.—The term ‘‘Map’’ means the map en-
titled ‘‘Boundary Map Cedar Creek and Belle Grove
National 
Historical 
Park’’, 
numbered 
CEBE–
80,001, and dated September 2002.
(3) PARK.—The term ‘‘Park’’ means the Cedar
Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park es-
tablished under section 5 and depicted on the Map.
(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means
the Secretary of the Interior.
SEC. 5. ESTABLISHMENT OF CEDAR CREEK AND BELLE
GROVE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the
Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park,
consisting of approximately 3,000 acres, as generally de-
picted on the Map.
(b) AVAILABILITY OF MAP.—The Map shall be on file
and available for public inspection in the offices of the Na-
tional Park Service, Department of the Interior.
SEC. 6. ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY.
(a) REAL PROPERTY.—The Secretary may acquire
land or interests in land within the boundaries of the
Park, from willing sellers only, by donation, purchase with
donated or appropriated funds, or exchange.
(b) BOUNDARY REVISION.—After acquiring land for
the Park, the Secretary shall—
(1) revise the boundary of the Park to include
newly acquired land within the boundary; and
(2) administer newly acquired land subject to
applicable laws (including regulations).
(c) PERSONAL PROPERTY.—The Secretary may ac-
quire personal property associated with, and appropriate
for, interpretation of the Park.
(d) CONSERVATION EASEMENTS AND COVENANTS.—
The Secretary is authorized to acquire conservation ease-
ments and enter into covenants regarding lands in or adja-
cent to the Park from willing sellers only. Such conserva-
tion easements and covenants shall have the effect of pro-
tecting the scenic, natural, and historic resources on adja-
cent lands and preserving the natural or historic setting
of the Park when viewed from within or outside the Park.
(e) SUPPORT FACILITIES.—The National Park Serv-
ice is authorized to acquire from willing sellers, land out-
side the Park boundary but in close proximity to the Park,
for the development of visitor, administrative, museum,
curatorial, and maintenance facilities.