Loads of 'history' on D.C. to-do list

WASHINGTON — The 108th Congress has turned out the lights for the year with some important business left undone.

No, we're not talking about intelligence reforms, federal finances or the like; lawmakers returned to Capitol Hill to take care of those issues.

Rather, left in Congress' "to do" stack was a massive package of bills, passed by the Senate but ignored by the House, that would designate a potpourri of national historic sites, trails, districts, heritage areas, wilderness and even boundary adjustments for national parks.

Two Utah proposals — the Great Basin National Heritage Route near Delta and the National Mormon Pioneer Heritage Area in central Utah — were among the many designations that fell victim to Congress' mad rush to get home for the holidays.

Most, if not all, will be reintroduced next year.

Many of the designations seem to have dubious national distinction.

There's the "Steel Industry National Historic Site" in Pennsylvania, which sounds like a fancy name to attract tourists to a blighted Rust Belt.

And there's the "Bleeding Kansas and Enduring Struggle for Freedom National Heritage Area," which sounds kind of creepy.

But such designations are important to local communities hoping to cash in on the boom in historical tourism.

Utah, already home to five national parks, seven national monuments, a national recreation area and a national historic site, might appear greedy to pursue additional national designations.

Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, sponsored the National Mormon Heritage Area legislation "to help preserve cultural and architectural treasures of Utah's pioneer heritage and strengthen opportunities for local heritage-related businesses and products in the state."

Some might argue a Mormon heritage area might include the entire state, if not large chunks of Idaho, Wyoming and Nevada. But he limited it to a 250-mile area from Fairview, Sanpete County, along U.S. 89 and stopping at the Arizona border at Kanab.

Sorry, Fredonia (the small Mormon town just across the state line).

"A trip along this stretch of Highway 89 is a valuable history lesson for first-time visitors, and a delightful reminder for others who've enjoyed it before," Bennett said at the introduction of the legislation. "It includes wonderful examples of the pioneers' remarkable story, their sacrifices and contributions."