http://www.examiner-enterprise.com/articles/2008/04/26/news/news717.txt

Byway Dedicated: U.S. Highway 60 gets ‘scenic’ designation

By Matt Conley Pawhuska Journal-Capital

PAWHUSKA — Visitors from across the state descended on northeast Oklahoma
yesterday to participate in the unveiling of the state’s newest scenic
byway.

The portion of U.S. Highway 60 — stretching west from Bartlesville, through
Pawhuska, to Ponca City — debuted as the “Osage Nation Heritage Trail
Byway” on a sunny Saturday afternoon. All three communities shared in the
celebration.

“As the co-chair of tourism in the Oklahoma Senate, I am thrilled to be
able to participate in the dedication of the Osage Nation Heritage Trail
Byway,” said Sen. John Ford (R-Bartlesville). “Events like this highlight
the wonderful tourism opportunities in Bartlesville and throughout all of
northeast Oklahoma.”

For the occasion, Bartlesville featured the Price Tower Arts Center, the
Frank Phillips Home, and the Discovery 1 Park. Ponca City showed off its
Marland Mansion, the Standing Bear Native American Museum and Park, along
with the Pioneer Woman Museum and Statue.

But the biggest party of all was held in historic downtown Pawhuska — the
home of the Osage Nation.

Tours through the Constantine Theater were held throughout the day, while
the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, known as the Cathedral of the
Osage, was also a main attraction to visitors to the area. The Osage Tribal
Museum, which next weekend will celebrate its 70th Anniversary and is the
oldest tribally-owned museum in the country, was also included in the tour
of historic sites highlighted by each community.

The day ended with a free picnic of traditional Osage cuisine on the campus
of the Osage Nation.

Downtown Pawhuska also played host to the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the
new scenic byway, with representatives from the Osage Nation, state
officials and the mayors of all three communities along the route
participating in the dedication.

“This is going to be very good for Bartlesville and will allow us to draw
regional interest to the community (and) draw in even more people to visit
our wonderful attractions,” said Bartlesville Mayor Tom Gorman. “It will
also open up access to the Byway Grant Program, which will provide ways for
us to continue to develop and maintain the attractions we have in
Bartlesville.”

The Osage Nation was the driving force behind the scenic byway designation,
and thanks to their efforts, the project received a $150,000 National
Scenic Byway Planning Grant.

Osage Nation Principal Chief Jim Gray said he was thrilled with the
cooperation between the tribe and communities like Bartlesville.

“We feel like this is a very big deal for this area, and it goes to show
that if people don’t care who gets the credit, we can all be surprised at
how much can be accomplished. This was a cooperative effort between a lot
of folks,” said Gray. “The scenic byway designation will encourage people
from all over this region of the country to visit the area, which is good
for the Osage Nation, as well as all three communities — Pawhuska,
Bartlesville and Ponca City. The area is already tourist-friendly, and the
natural beauty of the land is often taken for granted by people who have
lived here all their lives.”

Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Jari Askins was also on hand to participate in the
festivities, and used the dedication as a way to commend communities like
Bartlesville for working to enhance their image as a great tourist
attraction.

“This is a wonderful example of what it takes for Oklahoma’s smaller
communities to be successful,” said Askins. “These communities like
Bartlesville understand that the key to being successful is to embrace
regional cooperation, and this is a perfect example of the community doing
exactly that.”