Washington’s Trail—1753 National Historic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2026

119th Congress Introduced by Shelley Moore Capito and 4 co-sponsors

A feasibility study would determine if Washington’s Trail—1753, a ~500-mile route Washington traveled in 1753–54, qualifies as a National Historic Trail.

Introduced in Senate

Summary of Bill S.4538 (119th Congress)

Purpose and intent

Introduces a feasibility study to evaluate designating a new national historic trail, named “Washington’s Trail—1753,” as part of the National Trails System.

The bill is titled the Washington’s Trail—1753 National Historic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2026.

Aims to determine whether Washington’s Trail—1753 meets criteria for National Historic Trail status under the National Trails System Act.

Key provisions and changes

Amends Section 5(c) of the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1244(c)) by adding a new item to the list of potential national historic trails.

New designation entry: “Washington's Trail—1753” described as extending approximately 500 miles from Williamsburg, Virginia to Fort LeBoeuf (now Waterford), Pennsylvania.

The route follows the path taken by George Washington and his party during a diplomatic mission for Virginia Governor Robert Dinwiddie from October 31, 1753, to January 16, 1754, just before the start of the French and Indian War (1754–1763).

The statute does not itself designate the trail as a National Historic Trail; rather, it mandates a feasibility study by the Secretary of the Interior to determine eligibility and viability.

Who or what would be affected

Federal: The Secretary of the Interior would conduct the feasibility study, potentially involving collaboration with the National Park Service or other Interior agencies.

Historical/cultural stakeholders: States and localities along the approximately 500-mile route (Virginia and Pennsylvania, plus the intermediate region) would be involved in feasibility assessment, interpretation, preservation, and potential future designation processes.

Public and educational beneficiaries: If designated, the trail could influence heritage tourism, educational programs, preservation efforts, and federal-oversight responsibilities related to the National Historic Trails system.

Procedures and timeline

The bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a feasibility study on designating Washington’s Trail—1753 as a National Historic Trail.

Specific timeline details (e.g., duration of the study, reporting requirements) are not provided in the text of the bill excerpt; the bill primarily establishes the mandate for the feasibility evaluation.

The authority to proceed with designation would depend on the study’s findings and subsequent action by Congress and the Interior Department.

Sponsors and support

Introduced in the Senate on May 14, 2026.

Co-sponsors include: Mark Warner, Jim Justice, Tim Kaine, Shelley Moore Capito, and Dave McCormick.

Practical considerations

If the feasibility study supports designation, Congress would need to authorize and define additional details (planning, funding, governance, and management) for Washington’s Trail—1753 as a National Historic Trail.

The route’s historical basis centers on Washington’s 1753–1754 diplomatic mission, potentially emphasizing Revolutionary War-era and colonial history themes.

Overall, this bill establishes a formal process to evaluate turning Washington’s 1753 diplomatic route into a federally recognized National Historic Trail, which could influence preservation, education, and tourism in the affected regions.