Title 16ConservationRelease 119-73

§410ee San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 1— - NATIONAL PARKS, MILITARY PARKS, MONUMENTS, AND SEASHORES › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER LIX–C— - SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK › § 410ee

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Creates the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park to protect and interpret four Spanish missions—Concepcion, San Jose, San Juan, and Espada—and related historic areas. The park’s borders are shown on official maps dated May 1978 and June 7, 1990, and a 2012 map adds about 137 acres (map number 472/113,006A). The 2012 addition can only be bought by donation or land exchange. The Interior Department may make small boundary changes after telling the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the House Natural Resources Committee in writing and publishing the change. The Interior Department may get land or interests by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, or exchange for the missions, the Espada Acequia (about five miles along the west side of the San Antonio River), Espada Dam and Aqueduct, San Juan Acequia, and any land needed for access, protection, or interpretation. The Department can make agreements with private owners. Owners of an "improved property" (a noncommercial detached house started before January 1, 1978, with needed yard and accessory buildings) may keep the right to live there for 25 years or until the owner or spouse dies, whichever is later; the owner is paid fair market value minus the value of that retained right. That right can be ended if the property stops being used as a home, with payment for the unused portion. The Department must protect the missions and run the park under National Park rules. An 11‑member advisory commission, appointed for two‑year terms, may be set up, members serve without pay but can be reimbursed for expenses, and the commission was to be appointed within six months after November 10, 1978 and ends ten years after its first meeting unless Congress extends it. Up to $10,000,000 is authorized for land purchases and up to $15,000,000 for essential public facilities.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §410ee

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)In order to provide for the preservation, restoration, and interpretation of the Spanish Missions of San Antonio, Texas, for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations of Americans, there is hereby established the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park (hereafter in this section referred to as the “park”) consisting of Concepcion, San Jose, San Juan, and Espada Missions, together with areas and features historically associated therewith, as generally depicted on the drawing entitled “Boundary Map, San Antonio Missions National Historical Park”, numbered 930–80,022–C and dated May 1978, which shall be on file and available for public inspection in the offices of the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, and in the offices of the Superintendent of the park.
(2)The park shall also consist of the lands and interests therein within the area bounded by the line depicted as “Proposed Boundary Extension” on the maps entitled “San Antonio Missions National Historical Park”, numbered 472–80,075, 472–80,076, 472–80,077, 472–80,078, 472–80,079, 472–80,080, and 472–80,081 and dated June 7, 1990, which shall be on file and available for public inspection in the same manner as is such drawing.
(3)(A)The boundary of the park is modified to include approximately 137 acres, as depicted on the map entitled “San Antonio Missions National Historical Park Proposed Boundary Addition”, numbered 472/113,006A, and dated June 2012.
(B)The map described in subparagraph (A) shall be on file and available for inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service.
(C)The Secretary of the Interior may acquire the land or any interest in the land described in subparagraph (A) only by donation or exchange.
(4)After advising the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the United States Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the United States House of Representatives, in writing, the Secretary of the Interior (hereinafter referred to as the “Secretary”) may make minor revisions of the boundaries of the park when necessary by publication of a revised drawing or other boundary description in the Federal Register.
(b)For the purposes of this section, the Secretary is authorized—
(1)to acquire by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, or exchange, lands and interests therein constituting the following generally described areas in the historic missions district of the city of San Antonio, Texas—
(A)Mission San Jose y San Miguel de Aguayo;
(B)Mission Nuestra Senora de la Purisima Concepcion de Acuna;
(C)Mission San Francisco de la Espada;
(D)Espada Acequia, the section of approximately five miles along the west side of and parallel to the San Antonio River;
(E)Espada Dam and Aqueduct;
(F)Mission San Juan Capistrano;
(G)San Juan Acequia, on the east side of the San Antonio River; and
(H)such lands and interests therein which the Secretary determines are necessary or desirable to provide for public access to, and interpretation and protection of, the foregoing; and
(2)to enter cooperative agreements with the owners of any historic properties, including properties referred to in paragraph (1), in furtherance of the purposes of this section.
(c)(1)With the exception of any property deemed necessary by the Secretary for visitor facilities or administration of the park, any owner or owners of improved property on the date of its acquisition by the Secretary may, as a condition of such acquisition, retain for themselves and their successors or assigns a right of use and occupancy of the property for noncommercial residential purposes, for twenty-five years, or, in lieu thereof, for a term ending at the death of the owner or his spouse, whichever is later. The owner shall elect the term to be reserved. The Secretary shall pay to the owner the fair market value of the property on the date of such acquisition less the fair market value on such date of the right retained by the owner.
(2)A right of use and occupancy retained or enjoyed pursuant to this subsection may be terminated with respect to the entire property by the Secretary upon his determination that the property or any portion thereof had ceased to be used for noncommercial residential purposes and upon tender to the holder of a right an amount equal to the fair market value, as of the date of tender, of that portion of the right which remains unexpired on the date of termination.
(3)The term “improved property”, as used in this subsection, shall mean a detached, noncommercial residential dwelling, the construction of which was begun before January 1, 1978 (hereinafter referred to as a “dwelling”), together with so much of the land on which the dwelling is situated, the said land being in the same ownership as the dwelling, as the Secretary shall designate to be reasonably necessary for the enjoyment or 11 So in original. Probably should be “of”. the dwelling for the sole purpose of noncommercial residential use, together with any structures accessory to the dwelling which are situated on the land so designated.
(d)The Secretary is authorized and directed to take prompt and appropriate action in accordance with the provisions of this section and any cooperative agreement hereunder to assure the protection and preservation of the historical and architectural values of the missions and the areas and features historically associated therewith within the boundaries of the park. The park shall be administered by the Secretary in accordance with this section and provisions of law generally applicable to units of the National Park System, including the Act of August 25, 1916 (39 Stat. 535; 16 U.S.C. 1 et seq.) 22 See References in Text note below. and the Act of August 21, 1935 (49 Stat. 666; 16 U.S.C. 461–467).2
(e)(1)There is hereby authorized to be established by the Secretary, a San Antonio Missions Advisory Commission. The Commission shall be composed of eleven members, each appointed for a term of two years by the Secretary, as follows:
(A)one member to be appointed from recommendations made by the Governor of the State of Texas;
(B)one member to be appointed from recommendations made by the County Commissioners of Bexar County, Texas;
(C)one member to be appointed from recommendations made by the City Council of the City of San Antonio, Texas;
(D)one member to be appointed to represent non-Federal property owners whose property is operated and maintained in accordance with cooperative agreements with the Secretary pursuant to subsection (b)(2);
(E)one member from the membership of a local conservation or historical organization; and
(F)six members representing the general public.
(2)Members of the Commission shall serve without compensation as such, but the Secretary may pay expenses reasonably incurred by the Commission and may reimburse members for reasonable expenses incurred in carrying out their responsibilities under this section on vouchers signed by the Chairman.
(3)All appointments to the Commission shall be made by the Secretary within six months after November 10, 1978, and the Secretary, or his designee, shall from time to time, but at least semiannually, meet and consult with the Advisory Commission in matters relating to the park and with respect to carrying out the provisions of this section.
(4)Unless extended by Act of Congress, this Commission shall terminate ten years after the date of its first meeting with the Secretary or his designee.
(f)(1)There are hereby authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this section, but not more than $10,000,000 for the acquisition of lands and interests in lands.
(2)For the development of essential public facilities there are authorized to be appropriated not more than $15,000,000.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Act of
August 25, 1916 (39 Stat. 535; 16 U.S.C. 1 et seq.), referred to in subsec. (d), is act Aug. 25, 1916, ch. 408, 39 Stat. 535, known as the National Park Service Organic Act, which enacted section 1, 2, 3, and 4 of this title and provisions set out as a note under section 100101 of Title 54, National Park Service and Related Programs. Sections 1 to 4 of the Act were repealed and restated as section 1865(a) of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure, and section 100101(a), chapter 1003, and section 100751(a), 100752, 100753, and 102101 of Title 54 by Pub. L. 113–287, §§ 3, 4(a)(1), 7, Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3094, 3260, 3272. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables. For disposition of former sections of this title, see Disposition Table preceding section 100101 of Title 54. The Act of
August 21, 1935 (49 Stat. 666; 16 U.S.C. 461–467), referred to in subsec. (d), is act Aug. 21, 1935, ch. 593, 49 Stat. 666, known as the Historic Sites Act of 1935 and also as the Historic Sites, Buildings, and Antiquities Act, which enacted sections 461 to 467 of this title. The Act was repealed and restated as section 1866(a) of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure, and section 102303 and 102304 and chapter 3201 of Title 54, National Park Service and Related Programs, by Pub. L. 113–287, §§ 3, 4(a)(1), 7, Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3094, 3260, 3272. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables. For disposition of former sections of this title, see Disposition Table preceding section 100101 of Title 54.

Amendments

2014—Pub. L. 113–291, § 3042(1), inserted section catchline. Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 113–291 inserted subsec. heading, designated first, second, and third sentences as pars. (1), (2), and (4), respectively, inserted par. headings, and added par. (3). 1994—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–437, § 6(j)(1), substituted “Natural Resources” for “Interior and Insular Affairs” after “Committee on”. Subsec. (f)(2). Pub. L. 103–437, § 6(j)(2), struck out at end “Within one year from
November 10, 1978, the Secretary shall develop and transmit to the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the United States House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the United States Senate a final master plan for the development of the park consistent with the objectives of this section, indicating (A) the facilities needed to accommodate the health, safety, and interpretive needs of the visiting public; (B) the location and estimated cost of all facilities; and (C) the projected need for any additional facilities within the park.” 1990—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101–628, § 501(a), inserted after first sentence “The park shall also consist of the lands and interests therein within the area bounded by the line depicted as ‘Proposed Boundary Extension’ on the maps entitled ‘San Antonio Missions National Historical Park’, numbered 472–80,075, 472–80,076, 472–80,077, 472–80,078, 472–80,079, 472–80,080, and 472–80,081 and dated
June 7, 1990, which shall be on file and available for public inspection in the same manner as is such drawing.” Subsec. (f)(2). Pub. L. 101–628, § 501(b), substituted “$15,000,000” for “$500,000”. 1980—Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 96–344 substituted “eleven” for “seven” in provision preceding subpar. (A) and “six” for “two” in subpar. (F).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 410ee

Title 16Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73