Revisiting MacCannell's site sacralization theory as an analytical tool: Historic prophetstown as a case study
✍ Scribed by Linda Joyce Forristal; Dawn Gay Marsh; Xinran Y. Lehto
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 2011
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 205 KB
- Volume
- 13
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 1099-2340
- DOI
- 10.1002/jtr.830
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
Abstract
Historic Prophetstown in Battle Ground, Indiana is intrinsically connected to a pivotal event in Native American and United States military history. While it appears to have all the necessary elements to become a successful tourism attraction, it consistently teeters on the verge of insolvency. Applying sociologist Dean MacCannell's (1976) five‐stage site sacralization theory as an analytical lens to investigate the site revealed that it has never successfully moved beyond MacCannell's first stage (i.e. naming), which may be a key factor contributing to low visitation and poor economic performance. This suggests that MacCannell's theory can offer unique insights into site development. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.