# Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Shelter National Historical Park

This bill creates a new national historical park at Fort Ontario in New York to preserve and share the story of nearly 1,000 refugees who found shelter there during World War II. Between August 1944 and February 1946, exactly 982 refugees—mostly Jewish people fleeing the Holocaust—were housed at this military fort. The bill designates this site as an official unit of the National Park System, similar to other historic sites like Ellis Island or the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, so their stories can be protected and shared with future generations.

The park won't be officially established until the federal government acquires enough land around Fort Ontario to create what officials consider a manageable park unit. The Secretary of the Interior will determine when sufficient property has been acquired, then announce the park's official opening in the Federal Register. The government can acquire land through donations, purchases, or trades with private owners, though land owned by New York State or local governments can only be added if they voluntarily donate it. This means the state can't be forced to contribute property against its will.

Once established, the park will be run like other national parks, with the National Park Service managing it according to federal law. The government can work with New York State, local organizations, and private groups through cooperative agreements to provide educational programs and restore historic buildings related to the refugee experience. Within three years of receiving funding, park officials must develop a detailed management plan explaining how the park will operate and what visitors will experience. The bill essentially transforms Fort Ontario from a forgotten military installation into a permanent memorial and educational center dedicated to Holocaust refugee history.