Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Prairie du Rocher French Colonial National Historical Park Establishment Act”.
Prairie du Rocher French Colonial National Historical Park Establishment Act
A BILL
To establish the Prairie du Rocher French Colonial National Historical Park in the State of Illinois, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Findings and purposes
Findings— Congress finds that—
Prairie du Rocher and the French Colonial Historic District are the finest historical and architectural examples of French colonial heritage in the United States;
in 1966, Fort de Chartres and the Modoc Rock Shelter were each designated as a National Historic Landmark;
in 1973, the Creole House in Prairie du Rocher was added to the National Register of Historic Places;
in 1974, the French Colonial Historic District, which is an area of 22 square miles that includes the ancient Kolmer Indian site, was added to the National Register of Historic Places;
Fort de Chartres, which was constructed in 1720—
served as the French seat of government and primary military station on the upper Mississippi River; and
was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1960;
Pierre Laclede Liguest—
quartered in the Prairie du Rocher French Colonial District in the winter of 1763; and
in February 1764, founded St. Louis, Missouri;
in 1818, the village of Kaskaskia served as the first State capital of Illinois;
on July 4, 1778, General George Rogers Clark, with the assistance of Father Pierre Gibault, captured Prairie du Rocher and the village of Kaskaskia;
on November 28, 1803, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark visited the village of Kaskaskia seeking boatmen and troops to accompany the Lewis and Clark expedition;
in 1825, General Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Montier de Lafayette visited the village of Kaskaskia; and
the village of Kaskaskia, Fort de Chartres, and Prairie du Rocher once served as the western boundary of the United States.
Purposes— The purposes of this Act are—
to recognize the importance of Prairie du Rocher and the French Colonial Historic District as a nationally significant architectural village that embodies the cultural heritage of the United States; and
to establish the Prairie du Rocher French Colonial National Historical Park—
to serve as the focus of interpretive and educational programs relating to the history of the French Colonial Historic District; and
to assist in the preservation of historic sites within the French Colonial Historic District.
Sec. 3 Definitions
Sec. 4 Establishment of the Prairie du Rocher French Colonial National Historical Park
In general— To assist in the preservation, interpretation, and education relating to 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 established in the State the Prairie du Rocher French Colonial National Historical Park.
Area included— The Historical Park shall consist of the following:
Land and structures associated with the Creole House, which was constructed in 1800, a French Creole vernacular post-in-ground or “poteaux-sur-sol” structure that is 1 of 5 remaining such structures in the United States.
Land and structures associated with the Pierre Menard Home, which was constructed in 1803 and in which Pierre Menard lived during his term as the first Lieutenant Governor of Illinois.
Land and structures associated with the Doiron Bienvenue House, which is a post-in-ground or “poteaux-sur-sol” structure constructed in 1860.
A portion of the Fort Kaskaskia State Historic Site, which—
is a 200-acre park that celebrates the vanished frontier village of Kaskaskia;
is home to the earthen remains of Fort Kaskaskia; and
preserves Garrison Hill Cemetery at which Pierre Menard and dozens of veterans are interred.
Not more than 1,000 acres of land that the Secretary may designate for an interpretive center for the Historical Park, in accordance with subsections (c) and (d) of section 5.
Map—
In general— As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prepare a map depicting the boundaries of the Historical Park.
Availability— The map prepared under paragraph (1) shall be available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service.
Sec. 5 Administration of the Prairie du Rocher French Colonial National Historical Park
In general— The Secretary shall administer the Historical Park—
in accordance with—
this Act; and
the provisions of law generally applicable to units of the National Park System, including chapter 3201 of title 54, United States Code; and
in a manner that—
preserves resources and cultural landscapes relating to the history of the French Colonial Historic District; and
enhances public understanding of the important cultural heritage of the French Colonial Historic District.
Donations—
In general— The Secretary may accept donations of funds, property, or services from individuals, foundations, or other public or private entities for the purposes of providing programs, services, facilities, and technical assistance that further the purposes of the Historical Park.
Expenditure— Any funds donated to the Secretary under paragraph (1) may be expended by the Secretary without further appropriation.
Interpretive center—
In general— The Secretary may construct or lease space to operate and maintain on land identified to be appropriate by the Secretary an interpretive center for the Historical Park.
Consultation— The Secretary shall consult with the State, Randolph County, Illinois, the village of Prairie du Rocher, Illinois, and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources in the planning and development of the interpretive center authorized under paragraph (1).
Cooperative agreements— The Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with the State, Randolph County, Illinois, the village of Prairie du Rocher, Illinois, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, and other public or private organizations for the development of—
the interpretive center authorized under subsection (c)(1); and
educational programs and other materials that would facilitate public use of the Historical Park.
Grants—
In general— Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary may make grants to partners of the Historical Park for eligible projects described in paragraph (2).
Eligible project— A project eligible for a grant under paragraph (1) is a project that—
does not require Federal involvement other than the provision of financial assistance;
supports the purposes of the Historical Park;
enhances public use and enjoyment of the Historical Park; and
may include financial assistance for construction and development on non-Federal land within the boundaries of the Historical Park.
Acquisition of land—
In general— Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary may acquire land and interests in land within the boundaries of the Historical Park by—
donation;
purchase with donated or appropriated funds; or
exchange.
Exception— Land and interests in land that are owned by the State or any political subdivision of the State may be acquired for the Historical Park under paragraph (1) only by donation or exchange.