Date of Award
Spring 5-2021
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.A.
Degree Program
History
Department
History
Major Professor
Charles Chamberlain
Second Advisor
Mary Mitchell
Third Advisor
Robert Dupont
Abstract
The mythology that surrounds the city of New Orleans is expansive. In a city well known for its ghosts and culture, the tourism industry utilizes stories and mythology to entice tourists to visit the city. However, the perpetuation of myths as historical facts or as actual events to an unknowing public can cause more harm than good to the city and the understanding of its past. This essay utilizes interviews with current New Orleans Tour Guides to examines how the tourism industry in New Orleans presents mythology and historical evidence to tourists. This essay examines tours and tourism materials to better understand the industry alongside popular myths perpetuated in both the media and on tours. By utilizing tour guide narratives and their experiences this essay will demonstrate how the perpetuation of mythology in New Orleans has incorrectly informed tourists of the city’s historical background.
Recommended Citation
Roach, Madeleine R., "Don’t Be Myth-taken: The Perpetuation of Historical Myths in New Orleans Tourism" (2021). University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations. 2902.
https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/2902
Included in
Oral History Commons, Public History Commons, Social History Commons, United States History Commons
Rights
The University of New Orleans and its agents retain the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible this dissertation or thesis in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. The author retains all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis or dissertation.