Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- President Bush has signed into law legislation that creates Utah's first two heritage areas.
A heritage area is a region where a group of residents, businesses and governments manage cultural, natural and historic resources to attract tourism and to protect them for the future.
The Mormon Heritage Area will stretch 250 miles from the town of Fairview south to the Arizona border, crossing through Kane, Garfield, Piute, Sevier, Wayne and Sanpete counties. It includes examples of Mormon pioneer culture and architecture.
The Great Basin Heritage Route includes features in Millard County, Utah, and White Pine County, across the border in Nevada, and the Duckworth and Ely Shoshone Indian reservations. It follows the Pony Express and Overland trails and seeks to preserve the historic resources, including forests of thousand-year-old bristlecone pine trees and a World War II internment camp.
"I'm extremely pleased that after years of moving this bill through the legislative process President Bush has signed the National Mormon Pioneer Heritage Area into law," said Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, who sponsored legislation to create the heritage area. "This is a fitting tribute to Utah's pioneers and one that will help promote economic development and preserve our unique heritage for future generations."
------
Information from: The Salt Lake Tribune, http://www.sltrib.com
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
