Leveraging historical hospitality in the national parks: Fred Harvey, Mary Colter, and the heritage of the American Southwest

ABSTRACT

This conceptual paper examines the Fred Harvey Company, a key entity that helped develop tourism at Southwestern national parks, in particular Grand Canyon National Park and Petrified Forest National Park. The article describes some of the influences of this organization on the image of tourism in the Southwest, from the thematic design of spaces to the commercializing of Native American cultural heritage. After examining these impacts, the contemporary state of interpretation in these national parks is highlighted. Drawing on not only the natural and cultural resources of the region, organizations such as the National Park Service or Xanterra Travel Collection employ the historical hospitality foundations of the sites to create a multi-layered image of the national park as well as connect to tourist identities.

KEYWORDS:

• Fred Harvey
• Mary Colter
• National Park Service
• national parks
• cultural heritage

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Carissa Baker

Carissa Baker is an Assistant Professor of Theme Park and Attraction Management at the University of Central Florida's Rosen College of Hospitality Management. Her interdisciplinary work on theme parks and attractions includes the areas of narrative, culture, guest experience, and emerging markets.

Moniek Hover

Moniek Hover is Professor in Storytelling, Breda University of Applied Sciences, the Netherlands. Her research focuses on the connections between storytelling and experiences—such as emotions, memories, and meaning—in the contexts of leisure, tourism, and cultural heritage sites.