[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 62 (Thursday, April 29, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S2808]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DODD (for himself and Mr. Lieberman):
  S. 3291. A bill to establish Coltsville National Historical Park in 
the State of Connecticut, and for other purposes; to the Committee on 
Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Coltsville 
National Historic Park Act, which provides for the designation of the 
Coltsville Historic District in Hartford, Connecticut, as a national 
park. I would like to thank my colleague, Senator Lieberman, for 
supporting this legislation, as well as my good friend, Congressman 
Larson, who recently introduced an identical version of this bill in 
the House.
  I recognize that when most of us think of national parks, we picture 
the vast, sprawling landscapes of Yellowstone and Yosemite. Clearly, 
Connecticut's smaller size precludes it from having a national park on 
the scale of these sites. In fact, Connecticut itself is only about 
twice the size of Yellowstone National Park and currently has only one 
national park, the Weir Farm National Historic Site, which spans 60 
acres in the towns of Ridgefield and Wilton. But, while Connecticut may 
not possess the physical grandeur of our nation's largest parks, it is 
home to a rich national heritage that must be made accessible to every 
American.
  Located in Hartford's Sheldon-Charter Oak neighborhood, Coltsville 
grew around Samuel Colt's firearms factory, a landmark red brick 
building with a blue onion dome, during the Industrial Revolution of 
the 19th century. Colt made Hartford the center of precision 
manufacturing. While Americans may associate the name Sam Colt with 
firearms, the Colt legacy goes far beyond. Colt was a key figure of the 
Industrial Revolution, contributing to the development of waterproof 
ammunition, underwater mines, and the telegraph. He was also the first 
American manufacturer to open a plant overseas. Colt set the standard 
for a nation that fast became known for its technological innovations 
and industrial productivity. It is also a little-known fact that after 
Colt's death in 1862, his widow, Elizabeth Hart Jarvis Colt, 
successfully managed Colt Industries for 42 years and presided over the 
company during its most prosperous years in a period when men dominated 
the industrial world.
  Today, the Colt armory remains a beacon in the Hartford skyline, and 
Coltsville still boasts grand Victorian homes, including Armsmear, the 
home of Sam and Elizabeth Colt. Other nearby attractions include old 
mill housing, the Church of the Good Shepherd, and the Colt Memorial. A 
national park at Coltsville would be the main venue on a tour of 
Hartford that could include sites such as the houses of Mark Twain and 
Harriet Beecher Stowe and the riverfront. It would also be a prime 
destination for anyone taking an extended tour of historic and scenic 
New England.
  A national park at Coltsville would include more than 200 acres and 
be comprised of both public and private space. The centerpiece would be 
a museum within the armory celebrating Sam Colt and the growth of 
American industry. The museum could hold the vast collection of Colt 
firearms that currently rests in the Museum of Connecticut History as 
well as other machinery and memorabilia from the Industrial Revolution. 
Private property which is currently located within the proposed 
boundaries of the park, such as artists' studios and condominiums, 
could remain private. In fact, a museum and visitors' center in the 
Colt armory itself would take up only part of the building, the rest of 
which could be left open for private development. The armory already 
houses a business that manufactures replica Colt firearms, which would 
only enhance the proposed museum.
  In my capacity as Connecticut's senior Senator, I have fought hard 
alongside my colleagues in the State's Congressional delegation to help 
realize the goal of including this testament to America's industrial 
and manufacturing prowess within the National Park System. In 2003, we 
were successful in passing legislation that required the National Park 
Service to conduct a study assessing the feasibility of designating 
Coltsville as a national park. On July 22, 2008, Coltsville reached 
another critical milestone in this effort when it was designated as a 
National Historic Landmark by the Secretary of the Interior.
  Unfortunately, Coltsville has not been immune from the devastating 
effects of the global financial crisis that began later that year. 
While the Park Service's report, which was finally released last 
November, found that Coltsville is nationally significant and suitable 
for inclusion in the Park System, its determination of feasibility 
largely hinged on the ability of a private developer to manage the site 
in conjunction with the Park Service. Given the challenges currently 
facing our Nation's economy, Coltsville has run into some difficulties 
with this requirement. As a result, the Park Service was unable to 
conclude that Coltsville met the feasibility standards for inclusion in 
the Park System.
  That is why the legislation I introduced today with Senator Lieberman 
is so timely and important. The Coltsville National Historic Park Act 
authorizes the establishment of a national park in Coltsville when the 
feasibility issues outlined in the Park Service's November 2009 study, 
namely those surrounding private management of the site, are resolved. 
Our bill also sets standards for administration of the park, and 
creates a local advisory commission to develop and implement an 
overarching management plan for the park. This legislative approach is 
supported by a variety of State and local stakeholders, and in my view, 
provides us with a great opportunity to jump-start efforts to bring 
Coltsville into compliance with Park Service feasibility standards.
  I firmly believe that one of our most important obligations as 
Senators is to ensure that our Nation's vast array of natural treasures 
and historical landmarks are managed responsibly and preserved for the 
benefit of future generations. I urge my colleagues to join me in 
extending these protections to the Coltsville Historic District.
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