I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3893 
To establish the First State National Historical Park in the State of 
Delaware, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 21, 2009 
Mr. CASTLE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To establish the First State National Historical Park in 
the State of Delaware, 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. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘First State National 
Historical Park Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSE. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 
(1) the State of Delaware contains a collection 
of nationally significant resources relating to— 
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(A) the early succession of the Dutch, 
Swedish, and English settlement of the United 
States; and 
(B) the period leading up to the role of 
Delaware as the first State to ratify the Con-
stitution on December 7, 1787; 
(2) among the resources relating to the early 
settlement of the United States are— 
(A) National Historic Landmarks in Wil-
mington, Delaware, including— 
(i) the site of Fort Christina, which 
was— 
(I) constructed in 1638 by colo-
nists led by Peter Minuet to be the 
focal point of New Sweden; and 
(II) the first Swedish settlement 
in North America; and 
(ii) Old Swedes Church, which is the 
oldest church building still standing as 
originally built; 
(B) historic sites in New Castle, Delaware, 
including— 
(i) Fort Casimir, which was con-
structed by the Dutch in 1651; and 
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(ii) the New Castle Historic District, 
which is the location of an assemblage of 
resources associated with Dutch, Swedish, 
and English settlement of the State; and 
(C) the Lewes Historic District in Lewes, 
Delaware, which— 
(i) is listed on the National Register 
of Historic Places; 
(ii) was a significant location for early 
Dutch settlement and early nationhood; 
(iii) is the oldest town formed in Dela-
ware; and 
(iv) contains Ryves Holt House, 
which— 
(I) was built in 1665; and 
(II) is the oldest building still 
standing in the State; 
(3) among the nationally significant resources 
relating to the period of English settlement and the 
birth of the United States are a collection of re-
sources in New Castle, Delaware, including— 
(A) the Old New Castle Courthouse, which 
served as the capitol of the colony until 1777; 
and 
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(B) other National Historic Landmarks, 
including— 
(i) the home of John Dickinson, who 
is known as the ‘‘Penman of the Revolu-
tion’’; 
(ii) the Jacob Broom House, which 
was the home of Jacob Broom, delegate to 
the Constitutional Convention; 
(iii) Lombardy Hall, which was the 
home of Gunning Bedford, Jr., delegate to 
the Constitutional Convention; and 
(iv) Stonum, which was the home of 
George Read, who was— 
(I) a delegate to the Constitu-
tional Convention; and 
(II) an advocate of the early rati-
fication of the Constitution by the 
State of Delaware; 
(4) Dover Green, laid out in 1717 in accordance 
with the 1683 orders of William Penn, was the site 
at which Delaware— 
(A) voted to ratify the Constitution; 
(B) mustered a Continental Regiment dur-
ing the Revolution; and 
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(C) celebrated the reading of the Declara-
tion of Independence in 1776; 
(5) the State Archives in Dover, Delaware, con-
tains records and documents of persons and events 
that contribute to public knowledge and under-
standing of— 
(A) the period of the early settlement of 
Delaware; and 
(B) the role of Delaware as the First 
State; 
(6) the Zwaanendael Museum in Lewes, Dela-
ware— 
(A) commemorates the founding of the 
first European settlement in the State by the 
Dutch in 1631; and 
(B) provides exhibits and information on 
the maritime, social, and military history of the 
Lewes area; and 
(7) it is fitting and proper that the resources 
described in this subsection be recognized through 
the establishment of the first unit of the National 
Park System in the State of Delaware so that the 
public may better understand and appreciate the 
contributions of those resources to the history of the 
United States. 
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(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to estab-
lish the First State National Historical Park to preserve, 
protect, and promote public understanding and apprecia-
tion of— 
(1) the cultural and historic resources associ-
ated with early Dutch, Swedish, and English settle-
ment in Delaware; and 
(2) the events, places, and persons associated 
with the role of Delaware as the ‘‘First State’’. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) MAP.—The term ‘‘map’’ means the map en-
titled ‘‘First State National Historical Park–Pro-
posed Boundary’’, numbered øllll¿, and dated 
ølllll¿. 
(2) PARK.—The term ‘‘Park’’ means the First 
State National Historical Park established by sec-
tion 4(a). 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
(4) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State 
of Delaware. 
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SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FIRST STATE NATIONAL 
HISTORICAL PARK. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 
State a unit of the National Park System to be known 
as the ‘‘First State National Historical Park’’. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Park is to pre-
serve, protect, and interpret— 
(1) the historic and cultural resources associ-
ated with Dutch, Swedish, and English settlement in 
the State; and 
(2) the resources associated with the role of the 
State as the first State to ratify the Constitution. 
(c) BOUNDARIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Park shall be comprised 
of the following, as generally depicted on the map: 
(A) The New Castle Historic District. 
(B) Fort Christina. 
(C) The Old Swedes Church. 
(D) The John Dickinson Plantation. 
(E) Lombardy Hall. 
(F) Stonum. 
(G) The Lewes Historic District. 
(H) The Dover Green. 
(2) AVAILABILITY OF MAP.—The map shall be 
available for public inspection in the appropriate of-
fices of the National Park Service. 
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(3) HEADQUARTERS.—The headquarters for 
the Park shall be in the City of New Castle, Dela-
ware. 
(d) ACQUISITION OF LAND.—The Secretary may ac-
quire land or interests in land within the boundaries of 
the Park by— 
(1) donation; 
(2) purchase from willing sellers with donated 
or appropriated funds; or 
(3) exchange. 
(e) ADMINISTRATION.—The Secretary shall admin-
ister the Park in accordance with— 
(1) this Act; and 
(2) the laws generally applicable to units of the 
National Park System, including— 
(A) the National Park Service Organic Act 
(16 U.S.C. 1 et seq.); and 
(B) the Act of August 21, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 
461 et seq.). 
(f) GRANTS AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—Sub-
ject to the availability of funds under section 6(a), the Sec-
retary may provide grants and technical assistance to, and 
to enter into cooperative agreements with— 
(1) the State, political subdivisions of the State 
(including the cities of Wilmington, New Castle, 
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