---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 261"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "261"
heading: "Establishment; description of area"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/261"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — National Parks, Military Parks, Monuments, and Seashores"
  - "Subchapter XXVIII — Cumberland Gap National Historical Park"
---

# §261. Establishment; description of area


When title to such lands, structures, and other property in the Cumberland Gap-Cumberland Ford [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A), being portions of the Warriors Path of the Indians and [Wilderness](/usc/16/3102.md?p=13) Road of Daniel Boone, within Bell and Harlan [Counties](/usc/16/544.md?p=d), Kentucky; Lee County, Virginia; and Claiborne County, Tennessee; as may be determined by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior as necessary or desirable for national historical [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) purposes, shall have been vested in the United States, such [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) or [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) shall be, and they are, established, dedicated, and set apart as a public [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) for the benefit and inspiration of the people and shall be known as the Cumberland Gap National Historical [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3): Provided, That the United States shall not purchase by appropriation of public moneys any lands within the aforesaid [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A).


## Source credit

(June 11, 1940, ch. 304, § 1, 54 Stat. 262; May 26, 1943, ch. 103, § 1, 57 Stat. 85.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1943—Act May 26, 1943, omitted proviso relating to inclusion of certain specified lands.