---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 410ffff–2"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "410ffff–2"
heading: "Establishment of Weir Farm National Historical Park"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/410ffff-2"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — National Parks, Military Parks, Monuments, and Seashores"
  - "Subchapter LIX–DDD — Weir Farm National Historical Park"
---

# §410ffff–2. Establishment of Weir Farm National Historical Park

- (a) **In general—** There is established, as a [unit](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) of the National [Park](/usc/16/410fff–1.md?p=3) System, the Weir Farm National [Historical Park](/usc/16/410ffff.md?p=2) in the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Connecticut.
- (b) **Description—** The [historical park](/usc/16/410ffff.md?p=2) shall consist of—
  - (1) the approximately 2-acre core parcel containing the Weir house, studio, and barn;
  - (2) the approximately 60 acres and improvements thereon owned by the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Connecticut;
  - (3) the approximately 2-acre parcel of land situated in the town of Wilton, Connecticut, designated as lot 18 on a [map](/usc/16/410fff–1.md?p=2) entitled “Revised [Map](/usc/16/410fff–1.md?p=2) of Section I, Thunder Lake at Wilton, Connecticut, Scale l’=100’, October 27, 1978, Ryan and Faulds Land Surveyors, Wilton, Connecticut”, that is on file in the office of the town clerk of the town of Wilton, and therein numbered 3673; and
  - (4) the approximately 0.9-acre western portion of a parcel of land situated in the town of Wilton, Connecticut, designated as Tall Oaks Road on the [map](/usc/16/410fff–1.md?p=2) referred to in [paragraph (3)](#b-3).
- (c) **General depiction—** The parcels referred to in paragraphs [(1)](#b-1) through [(4)](#b-4) of subsection (b) are all as generally depicted on a [map](/usc/16/410fff–1.md?p=2) entitled “Boundary [Map](/usc/16/410fff–1.md?p=2), Weir Farm National Historic Site, Fairfield County Connecticut”, dated June 1994. Such [map](/usc/16/410fff–1.md?p=2) shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National [Park](/usc/16/410fff–1.md?p=3) Service.
- (d) **Acquisition of land for visitor and administrative facilities; limitations—**
  - (1) **Acquisition—**
    - (A) **In general—** To [preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2) and maintain the historic setting and character of the [historical park](/usc/16/410ffff.md?p=2), the [Secretary](/usc/16/410fff–1.md?p=4) may [acquire](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) not more than 15 additional acres for the development of visitor and administrative facilities for the [historical park](/usc/16/410ffff.md?p=2).
    - (B) **Proximity—** The property acquired under this subsection shall be within Fairfield County.
    - (C) **Management—** The acquired property shall be included within the boundary of the [historical park](/usc/16/410ffff.md?p=2) and shall be managed and maintained as part of the [historical park](/usc/16/410ffff.md?p=2).
  - (2) **Development—**
    - (A) **Maintaining natural character—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410fff–1.md?p=4) shall keep development of the property acquired under [paragraph (1)](#d-1) to a minimum so that the character of the acquired property will be similar to the natural and undeveloped landscape of the property described in [subsection (b)](#b).
    - (B) **Treatment of previously developed property—** Nothing in [subparagraph (A)](#d-2-A) shall either prevent the [Secretary](/usc/16/410fff–1.md?p=4) from acquiring property under [paragraph (1)](#d-1) that, prior to the [Secretary](/usc/16/410fff–1.md?p=4)’s [acquisition](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1), was developed in a manner inconsistent with [subparagraph (A)](#d-2-A), or require the [Secretary](/usc/16/410fff–1.md?p=4) to remediate such previously developed property to reflect the natural character described in [subparagraph (A)](#d-2-A).
  - (3) **Agreements—** Prior to and as a prerequisite to any development of visitor and administrative facilities on the property acquired under [paragraph (1)](#d-1), the [Secretary](/usc/16/410fff–1.md?p=4) shall enter into one or more agreements with the local governmental entity that, in accordance with applicable [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) law, has jurisdiction over any property acquired under [paragraph (1)(A)](#d-1-A) for the purposes of—
    - (A) developing the parking, visitor, and administrative facilities for the [historical park](/usc/16/410ffff.md?p=2); and
    - (B) managing bus traffic to the [historical park](/usc/16/410ffff.md?p=2) and limiting parking for large tour buses to an offsite location.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 101–485, § 4, Oct. 31, 1990, 104 Stat. 1171; Pub. L. 103–449, title II, § 203, Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4756; Pub. L. 105–363, § 1(a), Nov. 10, 1998, 112 Stat. 3296; Pub. L. 111–11, title VII, § 7102, Mar. 30, 2009, 123 Stat. 1190; Pub. L. 116–305, § 2(b)(2), Jan. 5, 2021, 134 Stat. 4917.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2021—Pub. L. 116–305, § 2(b)(2)(A), substituted “Historical Park” for “Historic Site” in section catchline.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 116–305, § 2(b)(2)(B), substituted “Historical Park” for “Historic Site”.

Subsecs. (b), (d). Pub. L. 116–305, § 2(b)(2)(C), substituted “historical park” for “historic site” wherever appearing.

2009—Subsec. (d)(1)(B). Pub. L. 111–11, § 7102(1), substituted “within Fairfield County.” for “contiguous to or in close proximity to the property described in subsection (b).”

Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 111–11, § 7102(2), amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The Secretary shall keep development of the property acquired under paragraph (1) to a minimum so that the character of the acquired property will be similar to the natural and undeveloped landscape of the property described in subsection (b).”

Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 111–11, § 7102(3), in introductory provisions, substituted “the local governmental entity that, in accordance with applicable State law, has jurisdiction over any property acquired under paragraph (1)(A)” for “the appropriate zoning authority of the town of Ridgefield, Connecticut, and the town of Wilton, Connecticut,”.

1998—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 105–363 added subsec. (d).

1994—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–449, § 203(a)(2), struck out concluding provisions which read as follows: “both as generally depicted on a map entitled ‘Land Ownership Map, Weir Farm Historic Site’, Figure 5, dated October 1989, as contained in the National Park Service Weir Farm Suitability/Feasibility Study, February, 1990. Such map shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service.”

Subsec. (b)(3), (4). Pub. L. 103–449, § 203(a)(1), (3), added pars. (3) and (4).

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 103–449, § 203(b), added subsec. (c).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Purpose

Pub. L. 103–449, title II, § 202, Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4756, provided that: “The purpose of this title [see Short Title of 1994 Amendment note set out under section 410ffff of this title] is to preserve the last remainingundeveloped parcels of the historic Weir Farm that remain in private ownership by including the parcels within the boundary of the Weir Farm National Historic Site.”