To establish the Weir Farm National Historic Site in the State of Connecticut.

Establishes the Weir Farm National Historic Site (after impressionist painter J. Alden Weir), Connecticut, as a unit of the National Park System. Authorizes appropriations.

 
HR 4112 IH
101st CONGRESS
2d Session
 H. R. 4112
To establish the Weir Farm National Historic Site in the State of Connecticut.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 27, 1990
Mr. GEJDENSON (for himself, Mr. ROWLAND of Connecticut, Mr. MORRISON of
Connecticut, Mrs. KENNELLY, Mrs. JOHNSON of Connecticut, and Mr. SHAYS)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Interior
and Insular Affairs
A BILL
To establish the Weir Farm National Historic Site in the State of Connecticut.
  Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
  States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
  (a) FINDINGS- The Congress finds that--
  (1) the National Park System preserves for the American people natural
  and historic places reflective of the Nation's heritage;
  (2) the National Park System contains no sites commemorating famous American
  painters or the artistic traditions to which they contributed;
  (3) the Weir Farm in Connecticut is listed on the National Register of
  Historic Places and is deserving of inclusion in the National Park System
  as an outstanding historic site associated with major American artists
  and several artistic developments;
  (4) the Weir Farm, acquired in 1882 by J. Alden Weir, a founder and principal
  exponent of American Impressionism, has been continuously occupied by
  working artists and their families who have maintained its significance
  and integrity as a historic site;
  (5) the pastoral setting and tranquillity of the Weir Farm served as the
  inspiration and subject for the works of Weir, John Singer Sargent, John
  H. Twachtman, Childe Hassam, Albert Pinkham Ryder, Theodore Robinson, Mahonri
  Mackintosh Young, and other noted artists who lived and visited there;
  (6) the Weir Farm is the best preserved site with a home, workplace, and
  landscape associated with the American Impressionism movement and larger
  developments in American art in the late 19th century, including shifts
  in subject matter from heroic wilderness vistas to familiar, domesticated
  landscapes and in working methods from studio to open air painting; and
  (7) the Weir Farm, including the houses, barns, studios, pond, fields, and
  woods thereon, and the approximately 113 acres of adjacent natural areas
  owned by the Nature Conservancy and the Town of Ridgefield, Connecticut,
  provide superlative opportunities for illustrating and interpreting important
  cultural themes of our Nation's heritage and for public recreation and
  enjoyment in a State which suffers a dearth of open space accessible to
  the public and which is unrepresented in the National Park System.
  (b) PURPOSES- The purposes of this Act are--
  (1) to preserve a site of profound significance for the tradition of
  American Impressionism and an outstanding example of the country retreats
  and landscapes associated with that movement and the evolving artistic
  methods of the late 19th century;
  (2) to maintain the integrity of a setting that inspires artistic expression
  and encourages public enjoyment; and
  (3) to offer opportunities for the recreation and education of the American
  people.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF SITE.
  There is established, as a unit of the National Park System in the State
  of Connecticut, the Weir Farm National Historic Site.
SEC. 3. DESCRIPTION OF SITE.
  The site shall consist of--
  (1) the 2-acre core parcel containing the Weir house, studio, and barn;
  (2) the approximately 60 acres and improvements thereon owned or to be
  acquired by the State of Connecticut, generally depicted on the National
  Park Service Weir Farm Suitability/Feasibility Study map entitled `Land
  Ownership Map, Weir Farm Historic Site,' numbered Figure 5, dated October
  1989, which map shall be on file and available for public inspection in
  appropriate offices of the National Park Service; and
  (3) any other lands that were part of the original Weir Farm, as shown on
  the National Register of Historic Places, that may become available.
SEC. 4. ACQUISITION OF REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY AND SERVICES.
  (a) REAL PROPERTY- The Secretary may acquire by purchase the core parcel
  and improvements thereon, and may acquire by donation, exchange, or lease
  any remaining lands and improvements within the boundaries of the site,
  described in section 3.
  (b) PERSONAL PROPERTY- For interpretative or research purposes at the site,
  the Secretary may acquire, by donation or purchase, collections and other
  personal property associated with the American Impressionism movement,
  the Weir family, and J. Alden Weir and other artists who lived at or
  visited the site.
  (c) OTHER PROPERTY, FUNDS, AND SERVICES- The Secretary may accept and use
  donated funds, property, and services to carry out this Act.
SEC. 5. ADMINISTRATION OF SITE.
  (a) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall administer the site in accordance
  with this Act and the law generally applicable to national historic sites,
  including the Act entitled `An Act to establish a National Park Service,
  and for other purposes', approved August 25, 1916 (16 U.S.C. 1 et seq.), and
  the Act entitled `An Act to provide for the preservation of historic American
  sites, buildings, objects, and antiquities of national historic significance,
  and for other purposes', approved August 21, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 461 et seq.).
  (b) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS- (1) The Secretary may consult and enter
  into cooperative agreements with the State of Connecticut concerning the
  maintenance, restoration, and management of the lands and improvements
  within the boundaries of the site.
  (2) So that the site may achieve fully its purpose, the Secretary may consult
  and enter into cooperative agreements with the Weir Farm Heritage Trust,
  the State of Connecticut, the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and
  other organizations and groups in the development, presentation, and funding
  of art exhibits, resident artist programs, and other appropriate activities.
  (3) In recognition of the opportunities to enhance the use of the site
  and the programs associated therewith proposed by the Nature Conservancy's
  Weir Preserve, and the use of other lands adjacent to the site owned by the
  town of Ridgefield, the Secretary may consult and enter into cooperative
  agreements with the Preserve's stewardship committee and the officials of
  the towns of Ridgefield and Wilton for the purpose of coordinating site
  activities with activities on such lands.
  (c) CONSULTATION- Because of the critical role played by the Weir Farm
  Heritage Trust in the preservation for posterity of this important site,
  its structures, objects, and cultural values, the Secretary shall consult
  with the Trust in matters relating to the site's preservation, development,
  and use.
  (d) EXHIBITS- The Secretary may display and accept for the purpose of
  display works of art associated with J. Alden Weir, the Weir Farm, and
  the American Impressionist movement.
SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.
  As used in this Act--
  (1) the term `Secretary' means Secretary of the Interior; and
  (2) the term `site' means the Weir Farm Historic Site established by
  section 2.
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
  There are authorized to be appropriated--
  (1) not more than $1,000,000 for acquisition of the core parcel described
  in section 3; and
  (2) such additional sums as are necessary to carry out this Act.