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Show Culminating many months of skillful remodeling and development of new exhibits, Anasazi Museun was rededicated Saturday with a special program BOULDER Anasazi State Park Museum was rededicated Saturday, Apr. 19 with an emotional emo-tional celebration designed to honor the ancient inhabitants of the site whose lives and lifestyle have provided the impetus for the unique and beautiful museum that presents their story to visitors from all over the world. Admission was free throughout the day for the visiting public. Patrons could browse through the new museum exhibits or visit any number of hands-on demonstrations demonstra-tions on primitive pottery making, fire-starting, cordage, spear-making spear-making and weaving. Authentic Native American foods that included hominy stew, hot chili, tamales and a prune dessert were served to the gathering gath-ering of well-wishers, many of whom had participated in the project to bring to fulfillment, the successful completion of the museum's remodeling. Anasazi State Park Manager Larry Davis welcomed dignitaries and guests noting that several who were present had also been in attendance at the original dedication back in 1970. One of those was Jim Haws whom he recognized as the person who gave the last piece of ground to help make the park possible. Dave Morrow, Deputy Director of the Division of Parks and Recreation served as master of ceremonies throughout the hour-long hour-long program, introducing each speaker in turn. Part time Boulder resident, author and publisher Gibbs Smith who had published "Centennial History - Utah's Heritage" said that he had first entered Boulder in 1961 who had published the Centennial History - Utah's Heritage. Smith said he had first come to Boulder in 1961 to see its "green fields nestled between enormous sandstone fingers." Noting that "the fields were mostly defined in those days by picturesque but effective rip-gut fences. He said he "had the feeling of entering a place like nowhere he had ever been even a sacred place" where he "intuitively sensed its ancient heart beats." Smith recounted how Boulder resident Leland Haws had been a mentor to him sharing how early families had struggled to survive in Boulder in this beautiful but isolated place. How precious Boulder was and how important it is to take care of Boulder. Smith honored Larry Davis as a person who "knows and feels the ancient heart beat of Boulder. "We are all connected by our feeling for this place," he said, Boulder "has power to attract people. All who sense the power are united by this knowledge and feeling." Davis presented gifts of appreciation to key individuals involved in the renovation process, replicas of Anasazi and skill demonstrations throughout the day. Taking part in the official ribbon-cutting to open the doors were state and local dignitaries. Newly Remodeled Anasazi Museum Is Rededicated In Special Ceremony pottery created by John Olsen of Hurricane. He first honored Newell Harward and Gaylen Rees of the construction firm of Harward and Rees of Loa. "Newell thought he had died and gone to heaven when they got the project," Davis said. "Here he was at an archaeological site with a backhoe and he could legitimately dig." To the Pulsifers (no first name available) he presented a replicated jar for their work on museum exhibits. And to Brad Smith, who constructed and installed the exhibits, he gave a replicated stone knife. Dave Morrow introduced Courtland Nelson, director of Utah State Parks and Recreation, as a man best described by Will Rogers who said "if you want to be successful, know what you are going, love what you are doing and believe in what you are doing." He said he felt that described Nelson perfectly. Nelson recalled his 1 a.m. telephone call to Judy Davis four years ago when the legislature adjourned after authorizing the funds necessary to conduct the renovation of Anasazi. "This is our first renovation, Nelson said, "We are finally old enough where we are renovating our own facilities. So we are becoming an agency now that has some age to it. "More importantly, we greatly enhanced the quality of the services, the interpretation, the education, the science that is taking place here. We are very excited about that. It will be a chance," said Nelson, "in a modest way, to provide destination tourism in an appropriate setting." Nelson thanked Utah Travel Council's Dean Reeder saying "this is one of Dean's clarion calls, that we need to develop facilities in conjunction with a number of partners. Department of Natural Resources Executive Director Ted Stewart his enhanced appreciation for Mormon pioneers in this sesquicentennial year resulting from the previous day's trip to Hole-in-the-Rock. He said he was worn out just driving his four-wheel four-wheel drive to the site, recreating what it took those pioneers six months to do, a trip, they originally expected would take six weeks. Stewart said that Boulder is a "rare and precious commodity." Will Numkena, director of the Utah Division of Indian Affairs, followed with welcoming remarks in his native Hopi tongue. Ted Stewart opening his remarks in his native tongue. "Within this facility our history is being preserved, our history is being understood, our history is making connections with all peoples who come through here," he said. Other speakers included State Senator Leonard Blackham of Moroni who told the audience that the legislature has made a commitment to try to help parks on renovating and upgrading the park system throughout the state. "Southern Utah has been discovered, he said." State Representative Thomas Hatch of Panguitch addressed the group noting that he had come to Boulder for the first time, earlier than Gibbs Smith, as a boy of seven in 1957, to visit his great aunt Jean Hansen who was married to Franklin Hansen. He said back then Boulder was "like the real outback" for a kid from (See Anasazi Museum Rededicated Rededica-ted In Ceremony On Page 3A) Anasazi Museum From Front Page Panguitch. "Boulder has changed," he said, from the years he had "spent summer months here. There has be'en a lot of change over the last 40 years," Hatch said, "and we are not through seeing that change. Alph Secakuku offered a special Native American blessing oyer the rededication and the facilities and closed with a couple of non-traditional Indian songs. |
