Title 16ConservationRelease 119-73not60

§156 Establishment; Boundaries

Title 16 › Chapter 1— NATIONAL PARKS, MILITARY PARKS, MONUMENTS, AND SEASHORES › Subchapter XVII— BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK › § 156

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

Big Bend National Park will be created once the United States owns the lands the Secretary of the Interior picks for a park inside boundaries he sets within an area of one million five hundred thousand acres in Brewster and Presidio Counties, Texas. The land will be set aside for the public to enjoy, and the United States cannot buy land there with public money; it must come only from public or private donations.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §156

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

When title to such lands as may be determined by the Secretary of the Interior as necessary for recreational park purposes within the boundaries to be determined by him within the area of approximately one million five hundred thousand acres, in the counties of Brewster and Presidio, in the State of Texas, known as the “Big Bend” area, shall have been vested in the United States, such lands shall be established, dedicated, and set apart as a public park for the benefit and enjoyment of the people and shall be known as the “Big Bend National Park”: Provided, That the United States shall not purchase by appropriation of public moneys any land within the aforesaid area, but such lands shall be secured by the United States only by public and private donations.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 156

Title 16Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60