---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 410bbbb"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "410bbbb"
heading: "Reconstruction Era National Historical Park and Reconstruction Era National Historic Network"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/410bbbb"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — National Parks, Military Parks, Monuments, and Seashores"
  - "Subchapter LIX–ZZ — Reconstruction Era National Historical Park"
---

# §410bbbb. Reconstruction Era National Historical Park and Reconstruction Era National Historic Network

- (a) **Definitions—** In this section:
  - (1) **Historical park—** The term “historical [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3)” means the Reconstruction Era National Historical [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3).
  - (2) **Map—** The term “[Map](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1)” means the [maps](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1) entitled “Reconstruction Era National Monument Old Beaufort Firehouse”, numbered 550/135,755, and dated January 2017; “Reconstruction Era National Monument Darrah Hall and Brick Baptist Church”, numbered 550/135,756, and dated January 2017; and “Reconstruction Era National Monument Camp Saxton”, numbered 550/135,757, and dated January 2017, collectively.
  - (3) **Network—** The term “Network” means the Reconstruction Era National Historic Network established pursuant to this section.
- (b) **Reconstruction Era National Historical Park—**
  - (1) **Redesignation of Reconstruction Era National Monument—**
    - (A) **In general—** The Reconstruction Era National Monument is redesignated as the Reconstruction Era National Historical [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3), as generally depicted on the [Map](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1).
    - (B) **Availability of funds—** Any funds available for the purposes of the Reconstruction Era National Monument shall be available for the purposes of the historical [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3).
    - (C) **References—** Any references in a law, regulation, document, record, [map](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1), or other paper of the United States to the Reconstruction Era National Monument shall be considered to be a reference to the historical [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3).
  - (2) **Boundary expansion—**
    - (A) **Beaufort National Historic Landmark District—** Subject to [subparagraph (D)](#b-2-D), the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) is authorized to [acquire](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) land or interests in land within the Beaufort National Historic Landmark District that has historic connection to the Reconstruction Era. Upon finalizing an agreement to [acquire](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) land, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall expand the boundary of the historical [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) to encompass the property.
    - (B) **St. Helena Island—** Subject to [subparagraph (D)](#b-2-D), the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) is authorized to [acquire](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) the following and shall expand the boundary of the historical [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) to include [acquisitions](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) under this authority:
      - (i) Land and interests in land adjacent to the existing boundary on St. Helena Island, South Carolina, as reflected on the [Map](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1).
      - (ii) Land or interests in land on St. Helena Island, South Carolina, that has a historic connection to the Reconstruction Era.
    - (C) **Camp Saxton—** Subject to [subparagraph (D)](#b-2-D), the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) is authorized to accept administrative jurisdiction of [Federal land](/usc/16/3102.md?p=2) or interests in [Federal land](/usc/16/3102.md?p=2) adjacent to the existing boundary at Camp Saxton, as reflected on the [Map](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1). Upon finalizing an agreement to accept administrative jurisdiction of [Federal land](/usc/16/3102.md?p=2) or interests in [Federal land](/usc/16/3102.md?p=2), the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall expand the boundary of the historical [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) to encompass that [Federal land](/usc/16/3102.md?p=2) or interests in [Federal land](/usc/16/3102.md?p=2).
    - (D) **Land acquisition authority—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may only [acquire](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) land under this section by donation, exchange, or purchase with donated funds.
  - (3) **Administration—**
    - (A) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall administer the historical [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) in accordance with this section and with the laws generally applicable to [units](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) of the National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) System.
    - (B) **Management plan—** If the [management plan](/usc/16/544.md?p=k) for the Reconstruction Era National Monument—
      - (i) has not been completed on or before March 12, 2019, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall incorporate all provisions of this section into the planning process and complete a [management plan](/usc/16/544.md?p=k) for the historical [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) within 3 years; and
      - (ii) has been completed on or before March 12, 2019, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall update the plan incorporating the provisions of this section.
- (c) **Reconstruction Era National Historic Network—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall—
    - (A) establish, within the National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) Service, a program to be known as the “Reconstruction Era National Historic Network”;
    - (B) not later than 1 year after March 12, 2019, solicit proposals from sites interested in being a part of the Network; and
    - (C) administer the Network through the historical [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3).
  - (2) **Duties of Secretary—** In carrying out the Network, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall—
    - (A) review studies and reports to complement and not duplicate studies of the historical importance of Reconstruction Era that may be underway or completed, such as the National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) Service Reconstruction Handbook and the National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) Service Theme Study on Reconstruction;
    - (B) produce and disseminate appropriate educational and promotional materials relating to the Reconstruction Era and the sites in the Network, such as handbooks, [maps](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1), interpretive guides, or electronic information;
    - (C) enter into appropriate cooperative agreements and memoranda of understanding to provide technical assistance;
    - (D)
      - (i) create and adopt an official, uniform symbol or device for the Network; and
      - (ii) issue regulations for the use of the symbol or device adopted under [clause (i)](#c-2-D-i); and
    - (E) conduct research relating to Reconstruction and the Reconstruction Era.
  - (3) **Elements—** The Network shall encompass the following elements:
    - (A) All [units](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) and programs of the National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) Service that are determined by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) to relate to the Reconstruction Era.
    - (B) Other Federal, [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a), local, and privately owned properties that the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) determines—
      - (i) relate to the Reconstruction Era; and
      - (ii) are included in, or determined by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) to be eligible for inclusion in, the National Register of Historic Places.
    - (C) Other governmental and nongovernmental sites, facilities, and programs of an educational, research, or interpretive nature that are directly related to the Reconstruction Era.
  - (4) **Cooperative agreements and memoranda of understanding—** To achieve the purposes of this section and to ensure effective coordination of the Federal and non-Federal elements of the Network and [units](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) and programs of the National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) Service, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may enter into cooperative agreements and memoranda of understanding with, and provide technical assistance to, the heads of other Federal agencies, [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r), [units](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) of local government, regional governmental bodies, and private entities.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 116–9, title II, § 2204, Mar. 12, 2019, 133 Stat. 735.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Definition of “Secretary”

Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior, see section 2 of Pub. L. 116–9, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.