News Release: NOV 06                                                 Contact:

True West Magazine                                                     Beth Whitchurch, Communications Director

                                                                                     St. Joseph Convention & Visitors Bureau

                                                                                     bwhitchurch@stjomo.com or 816-233-6688

                                                                                     Features Editor Mark Boardman

                                                                                     765-491-4063 / mboardman@twmag.com

ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI IS A 2007 TOP TRUE WESTERN TOWN!

There are thousands of towns in the American West that celebrate their heritage and culture, but St. Joseph, MO, is among the elite. For its efforts, St. Joe is recognized by True West magazine as the #10 True Western Town in the January/February 2007 issue, on newsstands December 12, 2006.

True West editors determined the winners based on a number of criteria—especially how each town has preserved its history through older buildings and districts, museums and other institutions, and events. The Top Ten also take the lead in promoting their historic resources to visitors.

The St. Joseph citation states that, “The city does a great job of honoring its past. St. Joe’s boasts 17 history museums—a remarkable number for a place of this size…. In the past, St. Joseph was a place that people went through to get somewhere else. Nowadays, it’s a great destination—a place to start and finish an Old West visit.”

“St. Joe is a remarkable town, the place where the Pony Express started and Jesse James met his end,” says True West Executive Editor Bob Boze Bell. “And it continues to restore and maintain historic properties and areas. It richly deserves recognition for its accomplishments.”

The True Western Towns feature, now in its second year, also includes a list of Towns to Watch for their good works in historic preservation, and a list of several legendary Old West locales that folks should know. The Top Town of 2007 is Helper, Utah.

True West magazine is in its 54th year of leading the way in presenting the true stories of Old West adventure, history, culture and preservation. For subscriptions and more information, visit  TWmag.com or call 888-687-1881.

Watch for Heritage Action's ad, along with other Saint Joseph organizations, in the upcoming April issue of True West magazine!

posted 12/29/06

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