16 U.S.C. § 410ccc–2 — Administration

(a) In general. The Secretary administers the historical park under this part and the laws generally applying to National Park System units, including the 1916 National Park Service Act and the 1935 historic sites Act, managing it to preserve Cane River Creole resources and cultural landscapes and to build public understanding of the region's cultural heritage. (b) Donations. The Secretary may accept and keep donated funds, property, or services from individuals, foundations, or other public or private entities, to fund programs, services, facilities, or technical assistance furthering this subchapter's purposes. Donated funds may be spent without needing a separate appropriation. (c) Interpretive center. The Secretary may build, run, and maintain an interpretive center on land identified under section 410ccc–1(b)(4), providing general information and orientation for both the park and the heritage area. The Secretary must consult Louisiana, the City of Natchitoches, the Association for the Preservation of Historic Natchitoches, and the Cane River National Heritage Area Commission when planning and developing it. (d) Cooperative agreements and technical assistance. (1) After consulting the Heritage Area Commission, the Secretary may make cooperative agreements with owners of properties inside the heritage area or the park that offer important educational and interpretive value, or to help preserve historic sites identified in the park's general management plan or other regional heritage elements. These agreements must give the Park Service reasonable access for operations and visitors, and preservation work must meet the Secretary's standards for rehabilitating historic buildings. (2) The Secretary may make cooperative agreements with the City of Natchitoches, Louisiana, and other public or private groups to develop the interpretive center, educational programs, and other materials supporting public use of the park and heritage area. (e) Research. The Secretary, through the National Park Service, must coordinate a comprehensive research program on the Cane River region's history, including ethnography of its living communities, how generations there adapted to their environment, and genealogy of area families. Research must include the region's extensive primary historic documents and methods for curating and displaying them. This research must be coordinated with Northwestern State University of Louisiana and the National Center for Preservation of Technology and Training in Natchitoches.