106TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 658 
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. 
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106TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 658 
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 Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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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. 
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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 
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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. 
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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 HISTOR-
ICAL 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 historic site shall be administered in a man-
ner consistent with this Act and all laws generally applica-
ble 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-
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monly known as the Historic Sites, Buildings, and Antiq-
uities 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 
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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. 
Passed the House of Representatives September 13, 
1999. 
Attest: 
Clerk. 
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