A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to establish the Valley Forge National Historical Park in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and for other purposes.
PL 94-337 (H.R.5621), enacted 07/04/1976

90 STAT. 796 
PUBLIC LAW 94-337—JULY 4, 1976 
Public Law 94-337 
94th Congress 
An Act 
July 4, 1976 
[H.R. 5621] 
Valley Forge 
National 
Historical Park, 
Pa. 
Establishment. 
16 use 410aa. 
Map. 
16USC410aa-l. 
Publication in 
Federal Register. 
Lands and 
interests, 
acquisition. 
Right of use and 
occupancy. 
Termination. 
"Improved 
property." 
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to establish the Valley Forge National 
Historical Park in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States 
of America 
in Congress assembled^ That in order to 
preserve and commemorate for the people of the United States the 
area associated with the heroic suffering, hardship, and determination 
and resolve of General George Washington's Continental Army during 
the winter of 1777-1778 at Valley Forge, the Secretary of the Interior 
(hereinafter referred to as the "Secretary") is authorized to establish 
the Valley Forge National Historical Park (hereinafter referred to 
as the "park"), in the Conmionwealth of Pennsylvania. 
SEC. 2. (a) The park shall comprise the area generally depicted on 
the map entitled "Valley Forge National Historical Park", dated 
February 1976, and numbered VF-91,000, which shall be on file and 
available for inspection in the offices of the National Park Service, 
Department of the Interior, Washington, District of Columbia, and 
in the offices of the superintendent of the park. After advising the 
Committees on Interior and Insular Affairs of the United States Con-
gress, in writing, the Secretary may make minor revisions of the 
boundaries of the park when necessary by publication of a revised map 
or other boundary description in the Federal Eegister. 
(b) Within the boundaries of the park, the Secretary may acquire 
lands and interests therein by donation, purchase with donated or 
appropriated funds, exchange, or transfer. Any property owned by 
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or any political subdivision 
thereof may be acquired only by donation. The effective date of such 
donation shall not be prior to October 1,1976. 
(c) Except for property deemed by the Secretary to be essential 
for visitor facilities, or for access to or administration of the park, 
any owner or owners of improved property on the date of its acquisi-
tion by the Secretary may, as a condition of such acquisition, retain 
for themselves and their successors or assigns a right of use and 
occupancy of the improved property for noncommercial residential 
purposes for a definite term not to exceed twenty-five years, or in lieu 
thereof, for a term ending at the death of the owner, or the death of 
his or her spouse, whichever is the later. The owner shall elect the term 
to be reserved. Unless the property is wholly or partially donated, the 
Secretary shall pay to the owner the fair market value of the property 
on the date of such acquisition, less the fair market value on such date 
of the right retained by the owner. 
(d) The Secretary may terminate a right of use and occupancy 
retained pursuant to this section upon his determination that such use 
and occupancy is being exercised in a manner not consistent with the 
purposes of this Act, and upon tender to the holder of the right of an 
amount equal to the fair market value of that portion of the right 
which remains unexpired on the date of termination. 
(e) The term "improved property", as used in this section shall 
mean a detached, noncommercial residential dwelling, the construc-
tion of which was begun before January 1, 1975 (hereafter referred 
PUBLIC LAW 94-337—JULY 4, 1976 
90 STAT. 797 
to as "dwelling"), together with so much of the land on which the 
dwelling is situated, the said land being in the same ownership as the 
dwelling, as the Secretary shall designate to be reasonably necessary 
for the enjoyment of the dwelling for the sole purpose of noncommer-
cial residential use, together with any structures accessory to the dwell-
ing which are situated on the land so designated. 
SEC. 3. When the Secretary determines that lands and interests 
therein have been acquired in an amount sufficient to constitute an 
administerable unit, he shall establish the park by publication of a 
notice to that effect in the Federal Kegister: Provided^ That the park 
shall not be established until the Secretary receives commitments 
which he deems to be sufficient from the Commonwealth of Pennsyl-
vania that the appropriations made by acts 320 and 352 of 1974, and 
act 12A of 1975, of the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Pennsyl-
vania, will continue to be available and obligated for development 
purposes within the park. The Secretary shall administer the property 
acquired for such park in accordance with the Act of August 25,1916 
(39 Stat. 535), as amended and supplemented, and the Act of 
August 21,1935 (49 Stat. 666), as amended. 
SEC. 4. (a) There are hereby authorized to be appropriated such 
sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act, but 
not more than $8,622,000 for the acquisition of lands and interests in 
lands. 
(b) For the development of essential public facilities there are 
authorized to be appropriated not more than $500,000. Within three 
years from the date of establishment of the park pursuant to this Act, 
the Secretary shall, after consulting with the Governor of the Com-
monwealth of Pennsylvania, develop and transmit to the Committees 
on Interior and Insular Affairs of the United States Congress a final 
master plan for the development of the park consistent with the objec-
tives of this Act, indicating: 
(1) the facilities needed to accommodate the health, safety, and 
interpretive needs of the visiting public; 
^2) the location and estimated cost of all facilities; and 
(3) the projected need for any additional facilities within the 
park. 
Approved July 4, 1976. 
Publication in 
Federal Register. 
16 u s e 410aa-2. 
Administration. 
43 u s e 1457. 
16 u s e 461. 
Appropriation 
authorization. 
16 u s e 410aa-3. 
Master 
development 
plan, consultation 
with Governor; 
transmittal to 
congressional 
committees. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 94-1142 (Comm. on Interior and Insular Affairs). 
SENATE REPORT No. 94-817 accompanying S. 1776 (eomm. on Interior and Insular 
Affairs). 
eONGRESSIONAL REGORD, Vol. 122 (1976): 
June 8, considered and passed House. 
June 11, considered and passed Senate. 
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOeUMENTS, Vol. 12, No. 27: 
July 4, Presidential statement.