Thomas Cole National Historic Site Act
PL 106-146 (H.R.658), enacted 12/09/1999

113 STAT. 1714 
PUBLIC LAW 106-146—DEC. 9, 1999 
Public Law 106-146 
106th Congress 
An Act 
Dec. 9, 1999 
To establish the Thomas Cole National Historic Site in the State of New York 
[H.R 658] 
as an affiliated area of the National Park System. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of 
Thomas Cole 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
Si?e/St^ ^^^^°^^ SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
16 use 461 note. 
(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 
PUBLIC LAW 106-146—DEC. 9, 1999 
113 STAT. 1715 
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 MANAGEMEIVT 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 
113 STAT. 1716 
PUBLIC LAW 106-146—DEC. 9, 1999 
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. 
Deadline. 
(d) GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN.—Within t w o complete flSCal 
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 
recommendatjt)ns 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 Pubhc Law 91-383 (16 U.S.C. 
la-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. 
Approved December 9, 1999. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 658 (S. 140): 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 106-138 (Comm. on Resources). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 106-89 accompanying S. 140 (Comm. on Energy and Nat-
111*31 I\.G 
s o u r c e s 
1 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 145 (1999): 
Sept. 13, considered and passed House. 
Nov. 19, considered and passed Senate.