Mesa Verde Country® Press Room

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact:	Lynn Dyer, Tourism Director (800) 530-2998 lynnd@mesaverdecountry.com	IMAGES AVAILABLE www.mesaverdecountry.com

TRAIL OF THE ANCIENTS DESIGNATED AS A NEW NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAY

CORTEZ, CO The U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, officially designated 45 new Byways, including Trail of the Ancients, on September 22, 2005 at an official ceremony in Washington, DC. Trail of the Ancients, located in the Four Corners area of Colorado and Utah, is the first and only National Scenic Byway dedicated to archaeology.

In Colorado, Trail of the Ancients includes the archaeological wonders of Mesa Verde National Park, Hovenweep National Monument, Ute Mountain Tribal Park, Lowry Pueblo, and the Anasazi Heritage Center. Additional stops include the Four Corners Monument, Cortez Cultural Center and Crow Canyon Archaeological Center. The byway highlights the long and intriguing occupation of the Four Corners area by Native American peoples. The area encompassed by the Trail of the Ancients is truly the "archaeological heartland of America." "This is a tremendous cultural and promotional opportunity for Mesa Verde Country, because this new designation will increase awareness of our region," said Lynn Dyer, Tourism Director for Mesa Verde Country®. Trail of the Ancients will be included on future America's Byways maps published by the US Department of Transportation. According to the Travel Industry of America, 80% of all travel in the U.S. is by car and many visitors enjoy the driving experience Mesa Verde Country® has to offer. Trail of the Ancients is a road from the past to the future; from adventure to understanding. For a never to be forgotten experience, Trail of the Ancients offers an opportunity to walk through time and create a very special adventure.

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