H. R. 658
One Hundred Sixth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE FIRST SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday,
the sixth day of January, one thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine
An Act
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 Representatives 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 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 land-
scapes 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 rec-
reational 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 his-
toric 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.; com-
monly 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 Founda-
tion, 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 pro-
grams, and other appropriate activities related to the preserva-
tion, interpretation, and use of the historic site.
(c) ARTIFACTS AND PROPERTY.—The Secretary may acquire per-
sonal property associated with, and appropriate for, the interpreta-
tion 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 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.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.