Eastwood Lauds Legacy of West

CODY, Wyo. (AP) _ Wyoming's newest museum captures one of America's great art forms, actor Clint Eastwood said at the opening of the Draper Museum of Natural History. <br><br>Several thousand people

Thursday, June 6th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

CODY, Wyo. (AP) _ Wyoming's newest museum captures one of America's great art forms, actor Clint Eastwood said at the opening of the Draper Museum of Natural History.

Several thousand people turned out for the opening of the $17 million museum, the fifth and largest at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center.

``The American West and American jazz are the only true art forms in this country,'' Eastwood said Tuesday during a tour of the historical center. ``This museum has a special feeling for the West _ especially for this part of the country.''

Eastwood didn't address the crowd, but he attracted swarms of fans and onlookers.

``Welcome to Wyoming,'' one yelled.

``You made my day,'' another said.

The Draper museum chronicles the greater Yellowstone ecosystem and the interactions of humans and nature throughout the region. The Buffalo Bill Historical Center also includes the Whitney Gallery of Western Art, the Buffalo Bill Museum, the Plains Indian Museum, the Cody Firearms Museum and the McCracken Research Library.