I
105TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 3703
To establish the Adams National Historical Park in the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts as the successor to the Adams National Historic Site.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APRIL 22, 1998
Mr. DELAHUNT introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Resources
A BILL
To establish the Adams National Historical Park in the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts as the successor to the
Adams National Historic Site.
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
‘‘Adams National Historical Park Act of 1998’’.
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of
this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
Sec. 4. Adams National Historical Park.
Sec. 5. Administration.
Sec. 6. Authorization of appropriations.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) In 1946, the Secretary of the Interior, by
means of the authority provided to the Secretary
under section 2 of the Act of August 21, 1935 (16
U.S.C. 462; commonly known as the Historic Sites,
Buildings, and Antiquities Act), established the
Adams Mansion National Historic Site in Quincy,
Massachusetts.
(2) In 1952, again using the authority provided
under the Act of August 21, 1935, the Secretary en-
larged the historic site and renamed it the Adams
National Historic Site.
(3) In 1972, title III of Public Law 92–272 (86
Stat. 121) authorized the Secretary to expand the
boundaries of the Adams National Historic Site to
include an additional 3.68 acres and to acquire lands
and interests in lands within the expanded bound-
aries.
(4) Section 312 of the National Parks and
Recreation Act of 1978 (Public Law 95–625; 92
Stat. 3479) authorized the Secretary to accept the
conveyance of the birthplaces in Quincy, Massachu-
setts, of John Adams, second President of the
United States, and John Quincy Adams, sixth Presi-
dent of the United States, and to administer the
birthplaces as part of the Adams National Historic
Site.
(5) In 1980, Public Law 96–435 (94 Stat.
1861) authorized the Secretary to accept the convey-
ance of the United First Parish Church in Quincy,
Massachusetts, the burial site of John Adams and
his wife, Abigail Adams, and John Quincy Adams
and his wife, Louisa Adams, and to administer the
burial site as part of the Adams National Historic
Site.
(6) The actions described in the preceding para-
graphs to preserve for the benefit, education, and in-
spiration of present and future generations of Amer-
icans the home, property, birthplaces, and burial site
of John Adams, Abigail Adams, John Quincy
Adams, and Louisa Adams, have resulted in a multi-
site unit of the National Park System with no over-
arching enabling or authorizing legislation.
(7) The sites and resources associated with
John Adams and his wife, Abigail Adams, and John
Quincy Adams and his wife, Louisa Adams, deserve
recognition as a national historical park in the Na-
tional Park System.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this Act:
(1) HISTORICAL PARK.—The term ‘‘historical
park’’ means the Adams National Historical Park
established in section 4.
(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means
the Secretary of the Interior.
SEC. 4. ADAMS NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—In order to preserve for the
benefit, education, and inspiration of the people of the
United States certain properties in Quincy, Massachu-
setts, associated with John Adams, second President of
the United States, his wife, Abigail Adams, John Quincy
Adams, sixth President of the United States, and his wife,
Louisa Adams, there is established the Adams National
Historical Park as a unit of the National Park System.
(b) BOUNDARIES.—The historical park shall be com-
prised of—
(1) all property owned by the National Park
Service in the Adams National Historic Site as of
the date of the enactment of this Act, as well as all
property previously authorized to be acquired by the
Secretary for inclusion in the Adams National His-
toric Site, as generally depicted on the map entitled
‘‘Adams National Historical Park’’, numbered
NARO 386/92001, and dated July 22, 1992; and