[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 666 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 666

Recognizing and celebrating the 35th anniversary of Guadalupe Mountains 
                 National Park, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 19, 2007

Mr. Rodriguez submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                   the Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing and celebrating the 35th anniversary of Guadalupe Mountains 
                 National Park, and for other purposes.

Whereas Guadalupe Mountains National Park is a scenic treasure of western Texas 
        that stretches more than 135 miles;
Whereas Guadalupe Mountains National Park includes Guadalupe Peak, the highest 
        point in Texas at approximately 8,749 feet;
Whereas for more than 10,000 years, diverse people have traveled through and 
        continuously inhabited the region now known as Guadalupe Mountains 
        National Park;
Whereas until the 19th century, the Mescalero Apaches lived, hunted, and 
        harvested agave in the Guadalupe Mountains region and remain an integral 
        part of the history of the region;
Whereas innovations in transportation and infrastructure after the Civil War 
        allowed settlers and miners to travel west and study the Guadalupe 
        Mountains region;
Whereas the United States Cavalry, including the famed Buffalo Soldiers, were 
        ordered to protect settlements along the stage route through the 
        Guadalupe Mountains region;
Whereas McKittrick Canyon is thought to be named after Felix McKittrick, who in 
        1869 was one of the first non-native people to permanently remain in the 
        Guadalupe Mountains region;
Whereas Frijole Ranch, constructed in 1876, was the first permanent ranch house 
        in the Guadalupe Mountains region and is now a museum;
Whereas in much of the 20th century, the geologist Wallace Pratt owned thousands 
        of acres in the Guadalupe Mountains, including McKittrick Canyon, which 
        he believed to be the most beautiful spot in Texas;
Whereas Wallace Pratt and his family shared their home with scientists and 
        researchers, who helped to convince Wallace Pratt that his land should 
        be turned into a national park;
Whereas in the early 1960s, Wallace Pratt donated approximately 6,000 acres, 
        including McKittrick Canyon, to the National Park Service to establish 
        McKittrick Canyon Park;
Whereas Wallace Pratt successfully encouraged the Federal Government to expand 
        McKittrick Canyon Park by purchasing approximately 80,000 acres from 
        neighboring landowner J. C. Hunter, Jr; and
Whereas on September 30, 1972, Guadalupe Mountains National Park was established 
        and formally opened to the public: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes and celebrates the 35th anniversary of the 
        founding of Guadalupe Mountains National Park; and
            (2) honors the National Park Service for its service to the 
        Guadalupe Mountains region and Guadalupe Mountains National 
        Park.
                                 <all>