Secretary of State Sharon Priest Praises Fort Smith, Brinkley for Bicentennial Plans

AUGUST 29, 2001 - Arkansas Secretary of State Sharon Priest praised two cities that are partners in the Arkansas Bicentennial Commemoration of the Louisiana Purchase.

Secretary Priest commended Brinkley and Fort Smith for becoming formal partners in the bicentennial planning process that her office is coordinating.

Brinkley (Monroe County), in eastern Arkansas, is 22 miles from the starting point of the 1815 survey of the Louisiana Purchase. The initial point of the survey is now Louisiana Purchase Historic State Park. Brinkley Mayor Bill Clay announced today that the city is renovating an historic railroad depot as a Louisiana Purchase Bicentennial Visitors Center and Museum. It will open in May 2003.

Civic leaders in Fort Smith (Sebastian County), in western Arkansas, plan an observance April 30-May 1, 2003, that will include an appearance by Clay Jenkinson, host of the public radio program, "Thomas Jefferson Hour."

Secretary Priest announced the two cities' plans in a ceremony in the rotunda of the Arkansas Capitol, dressed in an historic surveyor's costume and proclaiming, "The journey began in Arkansas!" She also unveiled the official logo of the Arkansas bicentennial celebration, a compass rose imposed over a map of the state with the slogan "The Journey Began in Arkansas."

The bicentennial advisory design team attended the ceremony at the Capitol and met afterwards, hearing reports from all of the bicentennial partners, including Fort Smith, Brinkley, the state Departments of Arkansas Heritage and Parks and Tourism.