---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 404"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "404"
heading: "Establishment; boundaries"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/404"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — National Parks, Military Parks, Monuments, and Seashores"
  - "Subchapter XLVII — Mammoth Cave National Park"
---

# §404. Establishment; boundaries


When title to lands within the [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) referred to in this section shall have been vested in the United States in fee simple, there shall be, and there is, established, dedicated, and set apart as a public [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) for the benefit and enjoyment of the people, the tract of land in the Mammoth Cave region in the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Kentucky, being approximately seventy thousand six hundred and eighteen acres, recommended as a National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) by the Southern Appalachian National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) to the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior, in its report of April 8, 1926, and made under authority of the Act of February 21, 1925 (chapter 281, [43](/usc/16/chch43.md) Statutes 958); which [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A), or any part or parts thereof as may be accepted on behalf of the United States in accordance with the provisions hereof, shall be known as the Mammoth Cave National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3): Provided, That the United States shall not purchase by appropriation of public moneys any land within the aforesaid [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A), but such lands shall be secured by the United States only by public or private donation.


## Source credit

(May 25, 1926, ch. 382, § 1, 44 Stat. 635.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Act of February 21, 1925, referred to in text, was not classified to the Code.