(a) A board of trustees, to be known as LaGrange Historical Commission, is hereby authorized to be appointed by the Governor for the purpose of acquiring, maintaining and protecting certain properties and objects of historical interest at LaGrange, in Colbert County, the site of the first chartered college in Alabama. Said board shall be composed of three members, and the first appointees shall be appointed to serve for terms of two, four and six years, respectively, and subsequent appointees shall serve for terms of four years. Such trustees shall serve without compensation other than payment of a per diem allowance and travel expenses in attending meetings of the board or in performing any actual service under the direction of the board, such expenses to be paid in accordance with Article 2 of Chapter 7 of Title 36 of this code. Such expenses shall be payable out of the appropriation made by subsection (c) of this section, upon warrant of the Comptroller, after the account for such expenses has been approved by the board of trustees and by the Governor.

(b) Said board of trustees, within its discretion, may acquire title, possession or control of such properties and also of objects of historic interest at LaGrange as it may deem necessary or proper to be maintained, preserved and protected on behalf of the State of Alabama, mark in suitable manner the places or locations of historic interest at such point and prepare and publish for distribution pamphlets or other printed matter with respect thereto. The expenses incurred for such purposes by the board of trustees shall be paid out of the appropriation made by subsection (c) of this section, upon warrant drawn by the Comptroller, supported by an itemized account thereof approved by the board of trustees and by the Governor.

(c) For the purposes provided by this section, the sum of $500.00 is hereby appropriated annually payable out of any funds in the treasury, not otherwise appropriated, all of which shall be released on order of the Governor.