110 HRES 666 IH: Recognizing and celebrating the 35th U.S. House of Representatives 2007-09-19 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IV 110th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 666 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

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.