Adams National Historical Park Act of 1998
PL 105-342 (S.2240), enacted 11/02/1998

112 STAT. 3200 
PUBLIC LAW 105-342—NOV. 2, 1998 
Public Law 105-342 
105th Congress 
Nov. 2, 1998 
[S. 2240] 
Adams National 
Historical Park 
Act of 1998. 
16 u s e 410eee 
note. 
16 u s e 410eee. 
An Act 
To establish the Adams National Historical Park in the Commonwealth of 
Massachusetts, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the "Adams National Historical Park 
Act of 1998". 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 
(1) in 1946, Secretary of the Interior J.A. Krug, by means 
of the authority granted the Secretary of the Interior under 
section 2 of the Historic Sites Act of August 21, 1935, estab-
lished the Adams Mansion National Historic Site, located in 
Quincy, Massachusetts; 
(2) in 1952, Acting Secretary of the Interior Vernon D. 
Northrup enlarged the site and renamed it the Adams National 
Historic Site, using the Secretar^s authority as provided in 
the Historic Sites Act; 
(3) in 1972, Congress, through Pubhc Law 92-272, author-
ized the Secretary of the Interior to add approximately 3.68 
acres at Adams National Historic Site; 
(4) in 1978, Congress, through Public Law 95-625, author-
ized the Secretary of the Interior to accept by conveyance 
the birthplaces of John Adams and John Quincy Adams, both 
in Quincy, Massachusetts, to be managed as part of the Adams 
National Historic Site; 
(5) in 1980, Congress, through Public Law 96-435, author-
ized the Secretary of the Interior to accept the conveyance 
of the United First Parish Church in Quincy, Massachusetts, 
the burial place of John Adams, Abigail Adams, and John 
Quincy Adeuns and his wife, to be administered as part of 
the Adams National Historic Site; 
(6) the actions taken by past Secretaries of the Interior 
and past Congresses to preserve for the benefit, education 
and inspiration of present and future generations of Americans 
the home, property, birthplaces and burial site of John Adams, 
John Quincy Adams, and Abigail Adams, have resulted in 
a multi-site unit of the National Park System with no over-
arching enabling or authorizing legislation; and 
(7) that the sites and resources associated with John 
Adams, second President of the United States, his wife Abigail 
Adams, and John Quincy Adams, sixth President of the United 
PUBLIC LAW 105-342—NOV. 2, 1998 
112 STAT. 3201 
States, require recognition as a national historical park in 
the National Park System. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to establish the Adams 
National Historical Park in the City of Quincy, in the Common-
wealth of Massachusetts, to preserve, maintain and interpret the 
home, property, birthplaces, and burial site of John Adams and 
his wife Abigail, John Quincy Adams, and subsequent generations 
of the Adams family associated with the Adams property in Quincy, 
Massachusetts, for the benefit, education and inspiration of present 
and future generations of Americans. 
SEC. 3. DEFEVrnONS. 
As used in this Act: 
(1) HISTORICAL PARK.—The term "historical park" means 
the Adams National Historical Park established in section 4. 
(2) SECRETARY.—The term "Secretar)^" means the Secretary 
of the Interior. 
SEC. 4. ADAMS NATIONAL 
fflSTORICAL 
PARK. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—In order to preserve for the benefit and 
inspiration of the people of the United States as a national historical 
park certain properties in Quincy, Massachusetts, associated with 
John Adams, second President of the United States, his wife, Abigail 
Adams, John Quincy Adams, sixth President of the United States, 
and his wife, Louisa Adams, there is established the Adams 
National Historical Park as a unit of the National Park System. 
(b) BOUNDARIES.—The historical park shall be comprised of 
the following: 
(1) All property administered by the National Park Service 
in the Adams National Historic Site as of the date of enactment 
of this Act, as well as all property previously authorized to 
be acquired by the Secretary for inclusion in the Adams 
National Historic Site, as generally depicted on the map entitled 
"Adams National Historical Park", numbered NERO 386/ 
80,000, and dated April 1998. 
(2) All property authorized to be acquired for inclusion 
in the historical park by this Act or other law enacted after 
the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(c) VISITOR AND ADMINISTRATIVE 
SITES.—TO preserve the 
historical character and landscape of the main features of the 
historical park, the Secretary may acquire up to 10 acres for the 
development of visitor, administrative, museum, curatorial, and 
maintenance facilities adjacent to or in the general proximity of 
the property depicted on the map identified in subsection (b)(1)(A). 
(d) MAP.—The map of the historical park shall be on file and 
available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the 
National Park Service. 
SEC. 5. ADMINISTRATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The park shall be administered by the Sec-
retary in accordance with this section and the provisions of law 
generally applicable to units of the National Park System, including 
the Act entitled "An Act to establish a National Park Service, 
and for other purposes", approved August 25, 1916 (39 Stat. 535; 
16 U.S.C. 1, 2, 3, and 4) and the Act of August 21, 1935 (49 
Stat. 666; 16 U.S.C. 461-467), as amended. 
(b) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—(1) The Secretary may consult 
and enter into cooperative agreements with interested entities and 
16 use 
410eee-l. 
16 use 
410eee-2. 
16 use 
410eee-3. 
112 STAT. 3202 
PUBLIC LAW 105-342—NOV. 2, 1998 
individuals to provide for the preservation, development, interpreta-
tion, and use of the park. 
(2) Any pa5rment made by the Secretary pursuant to a coopera-
tive agreement under this paragraph shall be subject to an agree-
ment that conversion, use, or disposal of the project so assisted 
for purposes contrary to the purposes of this Act, as determined 
by the Secretary, shall result in a right of the United States to 
reimbursement of all funds made available to such a project or 
the proportion of the increased value of the project attributable 
to such funds as determined at the time of such conversion, use, 
or disposal, whichever is greater. 
(c) ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY.—For the purposes of the 
park, the Secretary is authorized to acquire real property with 
appropriated or donated funds, by donation, or by exchange, within 
the boundaries of the park. 
(d) REPEAL OF SUPERCEDED ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITIES.— 
(1) Section 312 of the National Parks and Recreation Act 
of 1978 (Public Law 95-625; 92 Stat. 3479) is amended by 
striking "(a)" after "SEC. 312"; and strike subsection (b) in 
its entirety. 
(2) The first section of Pubhc Law 96-435 (94 Stat. 1861) 
is amended by striking "(a)" after 'That"; and strike subsection 
(b) in its entirety. 
(e) REFERENCES TO THE HISTORIC SITE.—^Any reference in any 
law (other than this Act), regulation, document, record, map, or 
other paper of the United States to the Adams National Historic 
Site shall be considered to be a reference to the historical park. 
1
6 use 
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
^ 
There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may 
be necessary to carry out this Act. 
Approved November 2, 1998. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 2240: 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 105-404 (Comm. on Energy and Natural Resources). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 144 (1998): 
Oct. 7, considered and passed Senate. 
Oct. 10, considered and passed House.