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Our new store is now open at CafePress.
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Our Supporters
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Corporate Sponsor:
Appreciation Society Business Members:
Doug Groppenbacher, CCIM, CIPS
Custom-Built
Teardrop Trailers
by
Teardrop72
Cultural Organization Members:
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Preserving Our Cultures
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When the idea first came to me to use US Route 89 as a unifying theme for a photography project, I had in mind the spectacular landscapes in the National Parks and Monuments. Then I began to research the rest of it-the towns and cities, the historic sites and cultural institutions and all of the history revealed along the road. I realized that Route 89 was a gateway to much more than spectacular scenery. As it turns out, there are many others who think so too, which is why there are four National Heritage Areas existing or proposed for sections of the highway.
One-third of US Route 89 is of such significant historical and cultural importance that it has been included in plans for National Heritage Areas. The National Park Service defines a heritage area as "a place...where natural, cultural, historic and scenic resources combine to form a cohesive, nationally distinctive landscape arising from patterns of human activity shaped by geography."
What makes NHA's unique is that they originate from a collaborative effort by local citizens and that they include landscapes shaped by people as well as nature. All of the land and buildings remain in private ownership or are part of local government or nonprofit organizations' parks and land trusts. The National Park Service helps with planning and setting up a management entity but its involvement is for a limited time.
Cultural tourism on a regional basis is the goal of heritage areas. Governments, nonprofit organizations and educational institutions work together to develop literature, signs and celebrations that highlight the uniqueness of the area. Each of the four areas along US Route 89 illuminate the long history of our interaction with this land.
In this newsletter, I will focus on the largest and most recognized area-Utah's Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area. In a future issue, I will detail the other three heritage areas which are in various stages of formation: Santa Cruz Valley in southern Arizona, Little Colorado River Valley in northern Arizona and the Bear River in northern Utah and southern Idaho.
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Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area
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 The most well established heritage area encompasses 285 miles of US Route 89 from the Utah state line near Lake Powell to Fairview, Utah. While southern Utah has long been renowned for breathtaking scenery, the Mormon Pioneer NHA will focus attention on settlement by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints. Beginning in 1849, towns were established in the intermountain valleys along the edge of the Colorado Plateau where the land was suitable of farming and grazing.
 The Mormon Pioneer NHA was authorized by Congress in 2006 after six years of work by a dedicated group called the Utah Heritage Highway 89 Alliance. They have just completed the management plan and will be launching into the first phase of development next year.
 But don't wait to visit. There are many events scheduled throughout the year from the Mormon Miracle Pageant in Manti to the Western Legends Roundup Festival in Kanab. Visit the Fairview Museum where natural history, regional history and art all meet. Stop by Spring City to browse in art galleries and meet the artist-residents living in pioneer homes built with native pale-yellow limestone.
Most of the towns are laid out in the classic Mormon design of a grid of 10-acre blocks with space set aside in the middle of town for churches, schools and other public buildings. Over 4,000 structures are listed on the National Register of Historic Places or have the potential to be listed. It is impossible to miss the Manti Temple sitting high on a hill in the middle of Sanpete County. Be sure, also, to look carefully down side streets to find beautiful log cabins and charming farm houses.
You will also find great places to eat and spend the night in the Mormon Pioneer NHA. For old-fashioned American home cooking, you can't beat Mom's Café in Salina. Dig into a cowboy-style barbecue at Cowboy's Smokehouse Café in Panguitch. Each of the towns has at least one bed and breakfast inn housed in a historic building.
 Following in the foot steps of the fur trappers and early explorers, the Mormons brought a settling influence to this region with their communities centered around family and church. The Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area brings that culture to life for the modern day traveler.
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Remodeling the US Route 89 Website
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Just as a house can use a coat of new paint and some new furniture and appliances, a website needs remodeling on a regular basis. The US Route 89 website has been undergoing just such a renovation. And like most remodeling project it is taking more effort and a longer time than we had planned. Now we are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel and plan to have a grand reopening by the end of February.
Here are some of the new or updated features you will find on the remodeled site:
- The Road Trip Guides will include more information and photographs to help travelers find the most interesting places to visit. Sponsors for each guide will be more visible so users will be able to visit their websites for more information and to show support. Finally, we are planning to make a downloadable version of each guide so that you can take it with you when you visit the area.
- Contributions by registered users will be much easier to accomplish in the Share Your Stories section of each Road Trip Guide. You will be able to include up to four photographs with each story. New stories will automatically be accessible from the What's New page. We are encouraging businesses and organizations to post information about themselves to make the guides even more useful. We have also added more safeguards against spamming and other forms of abuse.
- The US Route 89 Store will initially offer prints, paintings and other custom products by James and Barbara Cowlin. Our plan is to include the work of other artists and crafts people from along US 89 in the store. We are interested in hearing from any of you who would like to be included in the store. We need input on how best to go about making this a great place to shop for unique and beautiful arts and crafts.
- Jim and Barb will have blogs on the site. We will use them to post short articles, news and interesting links that we come across. In particular, we will use the blog to keep you posted on our travels along US 89.
- Finally, we have simplified the navigation links and added a search box at the top of every page. The goal is to make it easier to quickly find what you are looking for on the website.
If you would like to be a beta tester and give us feedback on the new site's usability, send Jim an email. We could use some help in the final stages of our remodeling project.
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Support the "Slow Road" Movement:
Join the US Route 89 Appreciation Society
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 You love driving the two-lane highways that keep you close to the edge of the road so you can see the land at a leisurely pace. You think nothing of stopping along the way to admire the view and smell the fresh air. You seek out unique places to eat where the special of the day depends on what's in season at the nearby farm. You already appreciate the opportunities offered by a journey on US Route 89.
You are not alone in your passion for a trip on a "slow road." There are many others like you. Together we can spread the word of the joys of leisurely travel. Join the US Route 89 Appreciation Society and you'll receive an official membership certificate and button to attest to your belief in the "slow road" movement.
General Membership: $5
Benefits:
ˇ Membership Certificate
ˇ Membership Badge
ˇ Email Newsletter
ˇ Invitations to all project events
Download the Membership Brochure in pdf format |
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