PUBLIC LAW 104–333—NOV. 12, 1996
110 STAT. 4163
16 USC 461 note.SEC. 512. NICODEMUS NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE.
(a) Findings and Purposes.—
- (1) Findings.—Congress finds that—
- (A) the town of Nicodemus, in Kansas, has national significance as the only remaining western town established by African-Americans during the Reconstruction period following the Civil War;
- (B) the town of Nicodemus is symbolic of the pioneer spirit of Afican-Americans who dared to leave the only region they had been familiar with to seek personal freedom and the opportunity to develop their talents and capabilities; and
- (C) the town of Nicodemus continues to be a valuable African-American community.
- (2) Purposes.—The purposes of this section are—
- (A) to preserve, protect, and interpret for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations, the remaining structures and locations that represent the history (including the settlement and growth) of the town of Nicodemus, Kansas; and
- (B) to interpret the historical role of the town of Nicodemus in the Reconstruction period in the context of the experience of westward expansion in the United States.
(b) Definitions.—In this section:
- (1) Historic site.—The term “historic site” means the Nicodemus National Historic Site established by subsection (c).
- (2) Secretary.—The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Interior.
(c) Establishment of Nicodemus National Historic Site.—
- (1) Establishment.—There is established the Nicodemus National Historic Site in Nicodemus, Kansas.
- (2) Description.—
- (A) In general.—The historic site shall consist of the first Baptist Church, the St. Francis Hotel, the Nicodemus School District Number 1, the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and the Township Hall located within the approximately 161.35 acres designated as the Nicodemus National Landmark in the Township of Nicodemus, Graham County, Kansas, as registered on the National Register of Historic Places pursuant to section 101 of the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470a), and depicted on a map entitled “Nicodemus National Historic Site”, numbered 80,000 and dated August 1994.
- (B) Map and boundary description.—The map referred to in subparagraph (A) and accompanying boundary description shall be on file and available for public inspection in the office of the Director of the National Park Service and any other office of the National Park Service that the Secretary determines to be an appropriate location for filing the map and boundary description.
(d) Administration of the Historic Site.—
- (1) In general.—The Secretary shall administer the historic site in accordance with this section and the provisions of law generally applicable to units of the National Park System, including the Act entitled “An Act to establish a National
