Invitatons to an icy land: Textual constructions for nature tourism in John Burroughs' and John Muir's narratives of Alaska and the Far North

John Burroughs and John Muir recorded their thoughts, observations and experiences in narratives of their travels to Alaska and the Far North. This dissertation explores these texts and the strategies and methods by which they encourage readers to visit Alaska to observe its natural scenery and Native cultures. Burroughs' and Muir's narratives do more than describe the people and places of Alaska: they demonstrate the physical, intellectual, aesthetic and spiritual benefits of Alaskan travel.; Chapter One contains a discussion of ecocritical and tourism theories. This overview establishes a theoretical context from which to examine Burroughs' and Muir's Alaska texts and their promotion of nature tourism. Chapter Two investigates John Muir's textual constructions for nature tourism in Travels in Alaska. The first part of this chapter examines how Muir's rhetorical strategies, including his subversion of established religious conventions, promote southeast Alaska as an ideal destination for those seeking spiritual renewal in wilderness. The second part of this chapter analyzes Muir's views and opinions of southeast Alaska Indians in relation to ethnic tourism. The final section critiques Muir's role as an adventure tourist in Stickeen and his promulgation of the restorative effects of strenuous travel in the third part of Travels in Alaska. Chapter Three explores John Burroughs' "Narrative of the Expedition," published in volume one of the Harriman Alaska Expedition. Burroughs' account reveals how experiential factors, as well as cultural constructs and metaphors, influence his perception of Alaska and the Far North. Chapter Four examines The Cruise of the Corwin as a late-nineteenth-century model for political activism by nature tourists. From an ecocritical perspective, Muir's work functions as a resource that can inspire and empower contemporary nature tourists who support Alaskan wildlife conservation and the preservation of Native cultures. Chapter Five compares and contrasts Burroughs' and Muir's Alaska narratives as they relate to nature tourism. The conclusion discusses the ethos of nature travel and how contemporary ecotourists can contribute to the preservation of Alaskan parks, forests and wilderness areas.