S 2801119th CongressIntroduced

Canterbury Shaker Village National Heritage Area Study Authorization Act

Introduced: Sep 15, 2025

Infrastructure

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The Canterbury Shaker Village National Heritage Area Study Authorization Act would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a formal study assessing whether the Canterbury Shaker Village National Historic Landmark (NHL) in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, is suitable and feasible for designation as a National Heritage Area (NHA). The study would be carried out in collaboration with state and local preservation officials, historical and tourism organizations, and other relevant groups, following the standard National Heritage Area feasibility-study process. The act does not designate an NHA itself or provide funding; it only authorizes the study to determine if designation is appropriate and practical.

Key Points

1Short title: The act may be cited as the Canterbury Shaker Village National Heritage Area Study Authorization Act.
2Findings: The bill highlights Canterbury Shaker Village’s long history since 1792, its significance to the Shaker movement and the broader Second Great Awakening, its transformation into a museum, its designation as a National Historic Landmark, and its substantial physical and archaeological resources. It frames the site as nationally significant for education, design, and culture.
3Definitions: Establishes key terms, including the Secretary of the Interior, the State of New Hampshire, and the study area (the geographic boundaries of the Canterbury Shaker Village NHL in Merrimack County).
4Study authority and process: The Secretary is authorized to conduct a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of designating the study area as a National Heritage Area, in consultation with state and local preservation/offices, historical societies, tourism offices, and other appropriate organizations and agencies, in line with the standard National Heritage Area feasibility process (54 U.S.C. 120103(a)).
5Study outcome, not designation: The bill focuses on conducting the study; it does not itself designate an NHA nor provide funding for designation. Any designation would come from future legislation or processes outside this act.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected: Canterbury Shaker Village and the surrounding Merrimack County, NH community, including local preservationists, historians, and the organization managing the NHL site.Secondary group/area affected: State and local historic preservation offices, tourism agencies, cultural organizations, and residents of New Hampshire who might benefit from heritage interpretation and tourism development if an NHA is designated.Additional impacts: Potential planning, collaboration, and educational opportunities; possible eligibility for federal-NHA funding or partnerships if designation proceeds; no immediate changes or restrictions without future designation and implementation steps.

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