HR1581-119

What This Bill Does

The Fort Monroe National Historical Park Establishment Act turns Fort Monroe into a National Historical Park in Virginia. The park must preserve and interpret Old Point Comfort, Captain John Smith's voyages, the first entry place of captive Africans into English North America, successive fortifications, the War of 1812, Fort Monroe's use as a coastal defense facility and artillery training center, the Civil War Contraband Decision, and United States Colored Troop units stationed there. The existing Fort Monroe National Monument is folded into the park. The boundary follows a June 2024 map available through the National Park Service, and the Interior Secretary may acquire land or interests by donation, transfer, exchange, or purchase from willing sellers using donated or appropriated funds. Administration follows National Park System laws while preserving Virginia and local jurisdiction unless modified by agreement.

Who Benefits and How

Fort Monroe visitors benefit from a fuller National Historical Park that interprets military, African American, Civil War, and recreational history. Hampton, Virginia communities benefit if park status increases heritage tourism and investment around Fort Monroe. African American history educators benefit from statutory interpretation of the first captive African landing and the Contraband Decision. The National Park Service benefits from clearer authority to administer the former monument as a broader historical park.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The Department of the Interior must administer the park, maintain maps, manage resources, and coordinate land acquisition. National Park Service staff must preserve historic, natural, recreational, and interpretive resources under park-system law. Virginia and local governments must coordinate jurisdiction and non-federal land issues within the park boundary. Federal taxpayers may bear land acquisition, operations, maintenance, and interpretation costs.

Key Provisions

• Establishes Fort Monroe National Historical Park in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
• Converts the Fort Monroe National Monument into part of the new historical park.
• Authorizes Interior to acquire land within the boundary by donation, transfer, exchange, or willing-seller purchase.
• Requires park interpretation of Old Point Comfort, captive African arrival, the Civil War Contraband Decision, and United States Colored Troops.