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Since inception of the Institution in 1846 the Regents have provided from trust funds a vehicle to transport the Secretary to and from his home, office, and appointments.

NATIONAL ARMED FORCES MUSEUM ADVISORY BOARD

Mr. Adams reminded the Regents that P.L. 87-186, enacted August 30, 1961, established the National Armed Forces Museum Advisory Board in the Smithsonian Institution. The Board was directed to "provide advice and assistance to the Regents ... on matters concerned with the portrayal of the contributions which the Armed Forces of the United States have made to American society and culture." [Sec. 1(a)] A primary function of the Advisory Board was to advise and assist the Regents "to investigate and survey lands and buildings in and near the District of Columbia suitable for the display of military collections." [Sec. 3(a)]

To aid in its investigation and survey of lands and buildings, the Advisory Board established criteria for use in consideration of potential sites. After studying fifteen such sites and embarking on several approaches to acquisition, the Advisory Board concluded that no completely adequate site was available for the major new museum contemplated by the Act.

As an alternative, the National Armed Forces Museum Advisory Board requested the Smithsonian to pursue discussions with the National Park Service on prospects for developing a cooperative outdoor museum program at Fort Washington in Prince Georges County, Maryland. An agreement for this purpose was entered into on September 20, 1973. However, its implementation was not possible because of problems of public access to