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Pub. Law 87-186     - 2 -     August 30, 1961
STAT. 415.
[[line]]

civization, and the role of the Armed Forces in maintaining a just and lasting peace by providing a powerful deterrent to war. In fulfilling its purposes, the Smithsonian Institution shall collect, preserve, and exhibit military objects of historical interest and significance.

[[margin]] 68 Stat. 997.  20 USC 77. [[/margin]]

(b) The provisions of this Act in no way rescind Public Law 722, Seventy-ninth Congress, approved August 12, 1946, which established the National Air Museum of the Smithsonian Institution, or any other authority of the Smithsonian Institution.

[[margin]] Survey of lands and buildings in the near D.C.[[/margin]]

SEC. 3. (a) The Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution is authorized and directed, with the advice and assistance of the Board, to investigate and survey lands and buildings in the near District of Columbia suitable for the display of military collections. The Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution shall, after consulting with in seeking the advice of the Commission on Fine Arts, the National Capital Planning Commission, and the General Services Administration, submit recommendations to the Congress with respect to the acquisition of lands and buildings for such purpose.

(b) Buildings acquired pursuant to recommendations made under subsection (a) of this section shall be used to house public exhibits and study collections that are not appropriate for the military exhibits of the Smithsonian Institution on the Mall in the District of Columbia. Facilities shall be provided for the display of large military objects and for the reconstruction, in an appropriate way, on lands acquired pursuant to recommendations made under subsection (a) of this section, of exhibits showing the nature of fortifications, trenches, and other military and naval facilities characteristic of the American colonial period, the War of the Revolution, and subsequent American military and naval operations.

[[margin]] Loan of military, space objects, etc. by Government agencies. [[/margin]]

SEC. 4. The heads of executive departments and independent agencies of the Government are authorized to transfer or loan to the Smithsonian Institution without charge therefor military, naval, aeronautical, and space objects, equipment and records for exhibition, historical, or other appropriate purposes.

[[margin]] Appropriation. [[/margin]]

SEC. 5. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated to the Smithsonian Institution such sums as may be necessary for the purposes of this Act. 
Approved August 30, 1961.

GPO 72139

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