Whereas, the land authorized for transfer by this resolve is within the designations in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, section 598-A; and

Whereas, the Director of the Bureau of Parks and Lands within the Department of Conservation may sell and convey lands with the approval of the Governor and the Commissioner of Conservation in accordance with the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, section 1814; now, therefore, be it

Sec. 1. Director of the Bureau of Parks and Lands authorized to convey Montpelier, the General Henry Knox Museum, consisting of historic site land, improvements, structures and historical collections, to the Friends of Montpelier. Resolved: That the Director of the Bureau of Parks and Lands within the Department of Conservation may by deed and gift agreement convey Montpelier, the General Henry Knox Museum, including 4.2 acres, more or less, of historic site land and related improvements, structures and historical collections, in the Town of Thomaston, Knox County, to the Friends of Montpelier, a nonprofit corporation, to be used for historic preservation and public education purposes.

SUMMARY

This resolve authorizes the transfer of certain property associated with Montpelier, the General Henry Knox Museum, from the State to the Friends of Montpelier. The property, including a reproduction of the 1794 Montpelier structure and a historical decorative and fine arts collection, was donated to the State by the Knox Memorial Association in 1965. From that time until 1995, the property was operated by the Bureau of Parks and Lands.

In 1995, the bureau leased the property to the Friends of Montpelier for management and operation. The Friends of Montpelier have managed and operated the property as lessees, keeping it open to the public and protecting the structure and the historical collections housed therein.

The deed and gift agreement would require that the property and historical collections be used exclusively for historic preservation and public education purposes.