H.R. 8375 (Introduced in House) — To establish the Prairie du Rocher French Colonial National Historical Park in the State of Illinois, and for other purposes.

Section 1 Findings; purposes

(a)

Findings— Congress finds the following:

(1)

Prairie du Rocher and the French Colonial Historic District are the finest historical and architectural examples of French Colonial Heritage in the United States.

(2)

Kaskaskia, Fort de Chartres and Prairie du Rocher once served as the western boundary of the United States.

(3)

In 1763, Pierre Laclede Liguest quartered in the Prairie du Rocher French Colonial District in the Winter of and founded St. Louis in February of 1764.

(4)

On July 4, 1778, General George Rogers Clark, with the assistance of Father Pierre Gibault, captured Prairie du Rocher and the Village of Kaskaskia.

(5)

On November 28, 1803, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark visited the Village of Kaskaskia, seeking Engages and troops to accompany them on the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

(6)

In 1818, Kaskaskia served as the first State Capital of Illinois.

(7)

In 1825, General Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Montier de Lafayette visited the Village of Kaskaskia.

(8)

In 1960, Fort de Chartres, the French seat of government and primary military station on the upper Mississippi River, erected in 1720, was declared a National Historic Landmark.

(9)

In 1966, Fort de Chartres and the Modoc Rock Shelter were declared National Historic Landmarks.

(10)

In 1973, the Creole House in Prairie du Rocher was added to the National Registry of Historic Places.

(11)

In 1974, Prairie du Rocher and the French Colonial Historic District, an area of 22 square miles, was created and added to the National Registry of Historic Places, along with the ancient Kolmer Indian site.

(b)

Purposes— The purposes of this Act are to—

(1)

recognize the importance of Prairie du Rocher and the French Colonial Historic District as a nationally significant architectural village of the cultural heritage of the United States; and

(2)

establish a Prairie du Rocher French Colonial National Historical Park to serve as the focus of interpretive and educational programs on the history of the French Colonial Historic District, and to assist in the preservation of historic sites within the Prairie du Rocher French Colonial Historic District.

Sec. 2 Establishment of the Prairie du Rocher French Colonial National Historical Park

(a)

In general— In order to assist in the preservation and interpretation of, and education concerning, of Prairie du Rocher and the French Colonial Historic District, and to provide technical assistance to a broad range of public and private landowners and preservation organizations, there is hereby established the Prairie du Rocher French Colonial National Historical Park in the State of Illinois.

(b)

Area included— The historical park shall consist of lands and interests therein as follows:

(1)

Lands and structures associated with—

(A)

the Creole House (1800), a French creole vernacular post in ground (poteaux-sur-sol) construction—one of only five remaining in the United States;

(B)

the Pierre Menard Home (1803) Menard was the first Lieutenant Governor of Illinois; and

(C)

the Doiron Bienvenue House, post in ground (poteaux-sur-sol) construction (1860).

(2)

A portion of the Fort Kaskaskia State Historic Site, a 200-acre park, which celebrates the vanished frontier Village of Kaskaskia, is home to the earthen remains of Fort Kaskaskia, and preserves Garrison Hill Cemetery, where Pierre Menard and dozens of veterans are interred.

(3)

Any Federal land acquired under section 5 and used as in interpretive visitor center complex for the historical park.

Sec. 3 Administration; management

(a)

Administration— The Secretary shall administer the historical park in accordance with this title and with provisions of law generally applicable to units of the National Park System, including—

(1)

section 100502 of title 54, United States Code; and

(2)

chapter 3201 of title 54, United States Code.

(b)

Management— The Secretary shall manage the historical park in such a manner as will preserve resources and cultural landscapes relating to the history of the historic district and to enhance public understanding of the important cultural heritage of the historic district.

Sec. 4 Interpretive visitor center complex

(a)

In general—

(1)

Construction; lease— The Secretary is authorized to construct on Federal land or lease space to operate and to maintain an interpretive visitor center complex to provide for the general information and orientation needs of the historical park and the historic district and serve the needs of the historical park.

(2)

Consultation— When the planning and development of the interpretive visitor center complex, the Secretary shall consult with—

(A)

the State of Illinois;

(B)

Randolph County;

(C)

the Village of Prairie du Rocher; and

(D)

the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

(b)

Cooperative agreements— The Secretary is authorized to enter into cooperative agreements for the development of the interpretive visitor center complex, educational programs, and other materials to facilitate public use of the historical park and historic district with—

(1)

the State of Illinois;

(2)

Randolph County;

(3)

the Village of Prairie du Rocher; and

(4)

the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Sec. 5 Acquisition of property

(a)

General authority— Except as otherwise provided in this section, the Secretary is authorized to acquire lands and interests therein within the boundaries of the historical park by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, and exchange.

(b)

State and local properties— Lands and interests therein that are owned by the State of Illinois, or any political subdivision thereof, may be acquired only by donation or exchange.

Sec. 6 Donations

The Secretary may accept and retain donations of funds, property, or services from individuals, foundations, or other public or private entities for the purposes of providing programs, services, facilities, or technical assistance that further the purposes of this Act. Any funds donated to the Secretary pursuant to this section may be expended without further appropriation.

Sec. 7 Grant Assistance

The Secretary is authorized to make grants to park partners for projects not requiring Federal involvement other than providing financial assistance, subject to the availability of appropriations in advance identifying the specific grantee and the specific project. Projects funded through grants under this section shall—

(1)

be used only for construction and development on non-Federal property within the boundaries of the historic district;

(2)

support the purposes of the historical park; and

(3)

enhance public use and enjoyment of the historical park.

Sec. 8 Definitions

In this Act:

(1)

Historic district— The term historic district means the Prairie du Rocher French Colonial Historic District listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.

(2)

Historical park— The term historical park means the Prairie du Rocher French Colonial National Historical Park established by section 2(a).

(3)

Secretary— The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.

To establish the Prairie du Rocher French Colonial National Historical Park in the State of Illinois, and for other purposes.