I
105TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 3109
To establish the Thomas Cole National Historic Site in the State of New
York, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 27, 1998
Mr. SOLOMON 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, and for other purposes.
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. Acquisition of property.
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 belonged to 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.
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 has been recognized as Ameri-
ca’s most prominent landscape and allegorical paint-
er in the mid-19th century.
(3) The Thomas Cole House in Greene County,
New York, is listed on the National Register of His-
toric 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 landscapes and scenes
painted by Thomas Cole and other Hudson River
artists 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 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 a unit
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. ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY.
(a) REAL PROPERTY.—The Secretary may acquire
lands and interests therein within the boundaries of the
historic site by donation, purchase with donated or appro-
priated funds, or exchange.
(b) PERSONAL PROPERTY.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), the Secretary may acquire personal prop-
erty associated with, and appropriate for, the inter-
pretation of the historic site using the methods pro-
vided in subsection (a).
(2) WORKS OF ART.—The Secretary may ac-
quire works of art associated with Thomas Cole and
other Hudson River artists only by donation or pur-
chase with donated funds.
SEC. 6. ADMINISTRATION OF HISTORIC SITE.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall administer
the historic site in accordance 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) GENERAL AUTHORITY.—To further the pur-
poses of this Act, the Secretary may consult with
and enter into cooperative agreements with the State
of New York, the Thomas Cole Foundation, and
other public and private entities to facilitate public
understanding and enjoyment of the lives and works
of the Hudson River artists through the develop-
ment, presentation, and funding of art exhibits, resi-
dent artist programs, and other appropriate activi-
ties related to the preservation, interpretation, and
use of the historic site.
(2) LIBRARY
AND
RESEARCH
CENTER.—The
Secretary may enter into a cooperative agreement
with the Greene County Historical Society to provide
for the establishment of a library and research cen-
ter at the historic site.
(c) EXHIBITS.—The Secretary may display, and ac-
cept for the purposes of display, works of art associated
with Thomas Cole and other Hudson River artists, as may
be necessary for the interpretation of the historic site.
(d) GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN.—Not later than
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. Upon its completion, the
Secretary shall submit 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
entitles. The plan shall be prepared in accordance with