TravelerDan's blog

Religion has been a common thread among the novels and memoirs that we have read in class. This is because religion is ubiquitous with life. It has a tremendous importance to culture from the Greeks in the Odyssey to the Christians that came to America. In order for a religion to survive, its ideals must be passed down and spread throughout the region. Therefore, there is a strong connection between travel and religion.
 
Many explorers have taken it upon themselves to spread religion amongst the natives. One of the main goals of Christopher Columbus’s voyages was to teach the natives Christianity with the hope that it could ‘civilize’ them. Cabeza de Vaca also had a similar goal but changed his opinion when he became assimilated with the Native Americans. He believed that mass conversion was not a good technique to spread religion and was not fair to the natives.
 
However, the early explorers still wrote their narratives with a Christian bias. The Travels of Marco Polo had a strong Christian bias. Polo was a devoted Christian who travelled to China where Buddhism was more commonly practiced. Polo looked down on the “idol worship” of Buddhism. However, he did not try to convert the Chinese. Instead, he still looked upon them with reverence. 
 
Homer's Odyssey displayed the power of the God in connection to travel. When Odysseus blinded the Cyclops, he faced the wrath of the Gods. Poseidon, God of the Sea and father to the Cyclops, exacted a strong revenge. Poseidon cursed Odysseus and his crew to be stranded for ten years. This demonstrated the potency of religion to travel by showing the effects that occurred when the Gods were mistreated.
 
The Tempest displayed the spread of religion through the perspective of the natives. Prospero taught Caliban religion and speech, both of which he rejected. This was common for the natives as they had their own customs and religions. However, sometimes the natives were given the option to be converted or to be killed. Thus, natives converted to Christianity and the religion spread.
 
Some of the travel narrative’s sole purpose was for a religious experience. In The Travels of Ibn Battutah, Ibn Battutah made the journey to Mecca as part of his religious duty. Throughout his journey, his faith guided him in his every decision.
 
These travel narratives provided a perspective of early travels. This was a time before tourism and, thus, almost of all the travel classics we read, centered on religion.
 

The Tempest is the last play written William Shakespeare. Though the play is fiction, it shares many details with the memoirs and travel stories that we have read earlier in the semester. The strongest connection to earlier texts relates to the treatment of the natives on the island. Ariel and Caliban are subjects that are enslaved by Prospero.
 
Though Ariel and Caliban are oppressed by Prospero, they develop different outlooks toward the repression and are treated differently. Caliban is the only non-spiritual native on the island. He is the son of the witch Sycorax. Similar to the way that the Native Americans taught the Europeans survival skills, Caliban teaches Prospero the survival skills that are necessary to survive on the Island. In return, Prospero and Miranda teach religion and their language to Caliban, both of which he rejects. Caliban is angry and defiant towards Prospero. Caliban’s disrespectful attitude towards Prospero stems from the fact that Caliban believes he is the heir to the island and Prospero took it from him. In the beginning of The Tempest, Ariel is obedient and admires Prospero. This is demonstrated when Ariel calls Prospero “Sir,” when addressing him. Ariel is also indebted to Prospero after he rescues him from a tree where the witch Sycorax trapped him.
 
Prospero uses his magic to subjugate Ariel and Caliban. According to Michael O’Toole in his essay Shakespeare’s Natives: Ariel and Caliban in The Tempest, “Prospero's magic art can be seen to stem from his connection to modern civilization. One can see how he utilizes his art, akin to modern technology, in order to suppress and subjugate. He is portrayed as a colonizer who exploits the innocence of his subjects to his own advantage.” Thus, there is a strong parallel to Prospero’s magic and the modern technology that is used by colonizers to suppress the natives.
 
Furthermore, as Michael O’Toole points out, Ariel and Caliban’s speech is indicative of their attitude. Ariel’s speech is pleasant as demonstrated by his song, “"Come unto these yellow sands,/ And then take hands./ Curtsied when you have and kissed,/ The wild waves whist,/ Foot it featly here and there;/ And, sweet sprites, the burden bear" (I, ii, 375-80). As O’Toole explains, Ariel’s song has  “alliteration, assonance, rhyme and meter.” The song is light in mood and childish. On the other hand, Caliban’s speech is submissive, “As I told thee before, I am subject to a/ tyrant,/ A sorcerer, that by cunning hath/ Cheated me of the island” (III,ii, 44-7). Caliban’s speech still has a moment of rebelliousness to it, but it also features submission to the rule of Prospero. As they story unfolds their speech toward differs. Ariel becomes more poised and less submissive. Conversely, Caliban is more submissive.

In 2000, CBS premiered the television program Survivor. The premise of the show is that “average Americans” are placed in a remote location that is considered one of “the most unforgiving places on earth.” The contestants are then divided into groups and participate in challenges. Every three days, a contestant of the losing group must vote one of their team’s players off the island. In then end, there is just one survivor.
 
The Narrative of Cabeza de Vaca is the true story of the survivor. After being shipped wrecked in modern day Tampa Bay, Cabeza de Vaca and his crew were forced to survive in an uncharted land. As in a reality show, one can never be sure whom to trust. At one point in the journey, Pánfilo de Narváez, the official leader of the ship, declared every man for himself. However, the risks were much greater for Cabeza da Veca than any contestant on a reality show. Cabeza de Vaca and his crew had to learn how to become hunter-gatherers. Those that did not, died. The survivors dropped from six hundred to two hundred and forty-two until only four remained alive. The challenges necessitated building a new ship out of miscellaneous parts, repairing a sinking ship, fighting starvation, improving and acquiring new skills to become trader and a healer. Because he over came these challenges, ten years after the journey began, Cabeza de Vaca returned home as one of the only survivors. 

The Narrative of Cabeza de Vaca is the account of Alvar Nuniez Cabeza de Vaca’s journey west from Spain. Cabeza de Vaca wrote his narrative after he returned home. Since he did not take notes, he had to recount his story from memory. The result has many errors especially in terms of chronology and geography. However, the narrative still contains an unprecedented story of discovery and adaptation that can be informative and compelling.
 
The beginning of Cabeza de Vaca’s journey started similarly to most European’s quests to North America. When Cabeza de Vaca reached Florida in 1528, he quickly claimed the new land for Spain. Next, he sought to find the gold that was rumored to be abundant in America. As his crew travelled, they soon became lost and in increasingly in bad health. Soon the journey became a survival story.
 
Cabeza de Vaca and his men tried to construct several boats to travel to Mexico. However, after colliding with a hurricane, the situation for Cabeza de Vaca and his men became dire. Their ships wrecked at what they called “Malhado Island” or Island of Doom. A journey that started with six hundred men, had now dwindled down to approximately fifteen survivors, who had lost everything including their clothes. While marooned on Malhado, Cabeza de Vaca described the rituals of the Native Americans of the region. One of the more fascinating descriptions of the culture was the role of the physician. Cabeza de Vaca described how the Native Americans tried to convince him that he was a physician. In this tribe’s culture, the physician would perform cures by making “incisions where the sick person has pain, and then sucks all around them. They perform cauterizations with fire… and after this, they blow upon the area that hurts.” This method of medicine was strange but Cabeza de Vaca claimed that some of it could be effective. Additionally, when Cabeza de Vaca restored an individual to health, he was rewarded with food and skins. However, when Cabeza de Vaca became sick, he still had to work and suffered “bad treatment” and, therefore, decided to flee.
 
After escaping from Malhado, Cabeza de Vaca became a merchant. He travelled throughout the tribes and was able to obtain goods that were needed by other Native Americans. Cabeza de Vaca’s trade consisted of snail shells, conch shells, beads and more that he traded for hides and red ochor. Cabeza de Vaca enjoyed this freedom and adapted to his new environment where he was renowned amongst the tribes and respected. Eventually, he reached New Spain and then returned home to spread his story of a new culture.

As I read the first voyage and had an understanding of the events that followed, one question came to mind worth asking, should Christopher Columbus be celebrated?
 
Columbus is memorialized throughout the world. Besides the United States, there is a variation of Columbus Day in Spain, Uruguay and in the Americas. In the US, Congress passed a law making the second Monday in October Columbus Day. Its purpose is to honor the explorer who fostered the first permanent European settlement in the New World. Lastly, for the observance of he 400th anniversary of his first voyage, the Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892.
 
However, there are many disparate views of Columbus’s voyages. There are several arguments against celebrating Columbus. The first is that Christopher Columbus never discovered or set foot in the United States. However, I believe the most potent example is his treatment of the “Indians,” who were tortured and put into slavery.  The most compelling illustration of this point is when young “Indians” were forced to mine for gold and had a quota that they needed to reach each day. When that quota was not reached, Columbus’s crew would cut off the hand of a slave. Clearly, the endorsement of this behavior by Columbus is not honorable and does not deserve the honor of a national holiday. Perhaps Columbus Day should have a dual meaning, one of discovery of a new world and the memorialization on the life that was lost unjustifiably.

I first want to address my preconceived notions about Christopher Columbus. I will be honest, while I am grateful for the day off, I knew little about Columbus other then he was not the true founder of America. I also knew he had three ships, the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria.  However, Christopher Columbus’s The Four Voyages provides more perspective on his travels.
 
One of the more intriguing parts of the book is the Digest of Columbus’s Log-Book on his First Voyage Made by Bartolome de las Casas. Bartolome de las Casas used the log-book of the Admiral and this rendering became “the prime authority for the voyage.” Entries ranged from the mundane, “All Friday he was becalmed,” to the exciting points of discovery. One of the most interesting entries was on October 11, “The first man to sight land was a sailor called Rodrigo from Triana, who afterwards vainly claimed the reward, which was pocketed by Columbus.” From this entry, the Admiral appears to make the case that Rodrigo was entitled to the reward, which was 10,000 maravedís. However, Columbus would claim the reward as his own. According to Columbus, he had first seen the land and, therefore, was entitled to the reward. It is interesting to note, that from this passage, Columbus appears to be vindictive, untruthful and selfish. The land that was discovered was located in Turks and Caicos, the indigenous people named it Guanahani. However, it was renamed San Salvador.
 
Another fascinating entry described the first meeting with the indigenous residents of San Salvador. While some natives can be hostile toward newcomers, the people of San Salvador were friendly to Columbus, “Some of them brought us water, others came with food, and when they saw that I did not want to land, they got into the sea, and came swimming to us.” This act demonstrates the kindness, and possible naivety of the indigenous people. During the age of imperialism, natives would be killed, raped, and expelled from their land. However, this entry demonstrates a kinder meeting.
 
Columbus’s journey to the West would set in motion a period of imperialism in the Americas. Columbus ended his first voyage believing that he visited Japan and China. However, as more explorers traveled West, they soon would reach the United States. Columbus’s legacy is not discovering America but rather he was the explorer who brought the Americas to Europe for future investigation.

The original purpose of Ibn Battuta’s journey was to go to Mecca for a religious experience known as the Hajj. The Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam and every able-bodied Muslim is expected to make the trip to Mecca at least once in their lifetime. Once in Mecca, a Muslim must engage in several other requirements of the Hajj in order to fulfill his or hers religious experience.
 
The most central ritual of the Hajj is the walk around the Kaaba. Kaaba is the most sacred site in Mecca because it is believed that Abraham built it. The pilgrim must walk counter-clockwise around the Kaaba seven times. The Black Stone is an important feature of the Kaaba because it is believed that it was kissed by Muhammad.  Many Muslims try to emulate this action by also kissing the rock. Additionally, all Muslims face the Kaaba when praying. During the Hajj, more then three million Muslims circle around the building. 
 
Another ritual of the Hajj is called the stoning the Devil in Mina. This ritual consists of pilgrims going to the city of Mina in order to throw pebbles at three walls called Jamarat. Each wall symbolizes a devil. The biggest walls symbolizes the moral obstacle of Abraham faced when attempting to sacrifice his son, Ishmael. The second wall represents the temptation that Hagar faced when she was tempted to stop Abraham. The last wall signifies Ishmael’s temptation to avoid being sacrificed. By throwing stones at the walls, the Muslims are also avoiding the temptation of the devil.

In 1326, Ibn Battutah embarked on a twenty-seven year pilgrimage to Mecca. Throughout his journey, Ibn Battutah vividly described his travels. His inquisitive nature fostered many insightful descriptions of the period. However, one of Ibn Buttutah’s most interesting travel locations was to Konia, where he visited a professor and engaged in the study of astrology.
 
Ibn Battutah’s first stop in Konia was to meet with a “distinguished professor called Muhyi ad-Din.” Battutah’s writing style often consisted of writing down every detail. He described the meeting with Professor Muhyi ad-Din vividly, “mounted on a lively mule and wearing ample garments with gold embroidery, with his slaves and servants on either side of him and preceded by the students…. I [later] found him in a reception hall in his garden, which had a stream of water flowing through a white marble basin with a rim of enameled tiles. He was occupying a raised seat covered with embroidered cloths, having a number of his students and slaves standing on either side of him, and when I saw him I took him for a king” [page 133] Battutah spared no expense in his account. His particular attention to detail seems like he wrote his accounts as if he was describing every feature in a photograph. Because Ibn Battutah wanted to capture every facet of his journey, he is able to paint an accurate depiction of Professor Muhyi ad-Din. The image of him as a king, seated in his ‘throne’ surrounded by students and slaves was powerful and provided a perspective on the power of a professor during Battutah’s period.
 
While in Konia, the Sultan of Birgi took Ibn Battutah to a site where an asteroid fell. They engaged in an early conversation about asteroids. The Sultan of Birgi described the asteroid as “a stone that has fallen from the sky" and asked Battutah if he has ever seen one [page 134]. Battutah was baffled by the idea saying “No, nor ever heard of one.” The Sultan called for the stone, Battutah described it as “A great black stone was brought, very hard and with a glitter in it, I reckon its weight was about a hundredweight.” What was remarkable about this story was the candidness in which Ibn Battutah told it. Battutah additionally described the sturdiness of the asteroid, “four [stone breakers] came and struck it all together four times over with iron hammers, but made no impression on it” [page 134]. These details provided perspective on the science of the period as they examined the rock. 

Marco Polo’s name has many associations. Polo’s name evokes many words like merchant, explorer, Christian, myth, and liar. There is a cruise ship, lunar crater, airport, candy bar, and Soprano’s episode that utilizes Marco Polo’s name. However, one of the strangest entities to take Polo’s name is the swimming pool game.
 
The rules of Marco Polo originate from the game Blind Man’s Bluff. Blind Man’s bluff is a form of tag that is played on dry land. One player is “it” or “Marco.” That player closes his or her eyes and shouts “Marco.” The additionally player responds by yelling out “Pollo.” The goal of the person labeled “it,” must track the additional player and tag him or her without opening their eyes. The person who is tagged now becomes “it.”
 
The game’s title derives its name from Marco Polo’s legend. However, there are many versions of the origin of the story. According to one version of the story, Marco Polo was unaware where he was going, similar to the player in the game who has his or her eyes closed. Another legend claims that while Marco Polo was traveling in the desert, he hallucinated and heard spirits call out his name. However, there is no solid proof for either one of these theories and the exact origin remains a mystery.

The Travels of Marco Polo is comprised of stories told to Rustichello da Pisa by Marco Polo while being held in prison as a political prisoner. The book describes Polo’s travels throughout Asia, Persia, China, and Indonesia covering a twenty-year span. Additionally, the book is “often used as a primary source in understanding thirteenth-century world history.” Nevertheless, academics have raised uncertainties about the accuracy of the book, particularly questioning if Polo actually made the travels that he claimed or whether the stories  are a fabrication comprised from other travelers’ journeys. Because it is believed that Polo dictated his stories to Rustichello da Pisa, and did not personally write them himself, many details are believed to be omitted. However, in her book Did Marco Polo Go to China?, Frances Wood makes a more aggressive claim in questioning the validity of Marco Polo’s travels.
 
Frances Wood’s biggest argument against the authenticity of Polo’s travels is noting several obvious omissions in the novel. Wood notes that there is a conspicuous absence of Chinese writing. Wood describes that Chinese writing appeared all over the country and that “it is hard to conceive that that in the country where paper money was invented and the written word revered…a person, even a foreigner, could claim to have served in the government bureaucracy and either fail to notice the Mongol and the Chinese writing systems or consider them of little interest” (p. 70). Furthermore, Polo fails to mention the Great Wall of China as well as tea or chopsticks. These omissions aid in Wood’s argument against Polo’s legitimacy.
 
Did Marco Polo Go to China?, also raises questions about Marco Polo’s route to Asia. Wood documents that it is virtually impossible to retrace Polo’s journey to Asia because this journey moves almost randomly across China and Asia without any rational connections. Woods concludes that this disconnect results in a book that is more “general geography than a travel record” (p. 29).
 
Supported by the evidence of Polo’s omissions and lack of retraceable route to Asia, Frances Wood concludes that Marco Polo never traveled beyond the Black Sea. Wood believes that the book is based rather on family stories and secondary sourced materials rather than Polo’s actual travels. If Wood is right, Polo’s myth would parallel Christopher Columbus’, who was strongly influenced by Polo’s travels. Both men’s legacies have been mythologized into tremendous tales of discovery, when in fact they both lack accuracy. 

Herodotus has gained the name “The Father of History” through his study of Egypt in the masterpiece, An Account of Egypt. As I mentioned in my previous post, Herodotus delves into the significance of the phoenix to the Egyptians. Additionally, Herodotus’ magnum opus examines the history of several Egyptian kings. The result provides a framework for outsiders to gain an understanding of Egyptian history. In BearCat’s blog post, he mentions that Kanye West seems to be influenced by the period covered Herodotus’ writings. He describes the role of the phoenix in Kanye West’s music video “Runaway.” However, Kanye West clearly shares more than the Egyptian fondness for the phoenix, he also shares the aspiration to become an Egyptian king.
 
In the summer of 2010, Kanye West released the first single from My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy called “Power.” West performed the song on Saturday Night Live dressed in red with several gold necklaces and a golden crown. Furthermore, the cover art for the single depicts a king with a severed head and a sword that runs through the middle of his head. Though I doubt Kanye West read An Account of Egypt, he certainly shares several characteristics with King Cyrus. Both men are powerful and ambitious. It is through their immense ambition that both men experienced a tremendous downfall. For Cyrus, he attacked Tomyris, which went against the recommendation of his advisers. The result was defeat and death. For Kanye West, his ambition fostered his large ego, which interfered with his ability to make practical decisions. The result for West was forced exile from the spotlight when he interrupted Taylor Swift at the MTV Video Music Awards. Though their fates were different, Kanye had a figurative death that is referenced by the cover art to “Power.” 

Herodotus’ An Account of Egypt is a report on ancient customs, politics, and culture.The book is a hybrid of facts and story telling including observations and local legends. Herodotus is very definitive on hearsay versus knowledge. He compiles his information over a long period of time. His travels brought him around the Mediterranean and Western Asia, where he conducts interviews and studies the locals’ way of life. He sheds light on the period and the result is a comprehensive study of Egypt. Herodotus’ writing is especially compelling when he is examining culture. He goes into great detail about the religion of the Egyptians as well as the animals that live in the region and their importance.
 
An Account of Egypt describes the significance of animals to the Egyptian culture. Herodotus explains that there are very few animals in Egypt and they hold a “sacred” place in the community. Because of their importance, some animals live with men and are fed by men and women separately. Additionally, certain sacred animals are not used for food and if an animal is intentionally killed, the responsible individual can face a penalty of death. Thus, animals are heavily protected and treated with extraordinary care in Egypt.
 
Herodotus also examines the custom of making a vow to the God of the animal. During the process the owner of the animal shaves the head of his children and measures the amount of hair in a scale balanced against silver. The weight of the hair is equal to the amount of fish that the caretaker of the animal receives from the person who made the vow. Additionally, the fish cannot be eaten by the caretaker but rather is given to the animal as food. This custom demonstrates how animals are an integral part of religious practices for the Egyptians.
 
Like the Gods themselves, animals also have myths created about them. Herodotus describes the “sacred bird called the phoenix.” He notes the he has never seen a phoenix but according to the legend, the phoenix appears only when its father dies or once every five hundred years. However, Herodotus is able derive the phoenix’s depiction from several Egyptian paintings. The sacred bird has gold and red feathers and is the size of an eagle. There is also a myth describing the plight of the phoenix. The purpose of the phoenix’s journey is to transport its father from Arabia to the temple of the Sun in a special egg. The myth demonstrates the importance of animals to culture and provides perspective on how they are intertwined with life and the supernatural.

Homer’s The Odyssey has a strong influence on movies and television. The Simpsons has featured an episode titled “Homer’s Odyssey” as well as an episode that is a direct, comedic parody of The Odyssey. Furthermore, Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey directly references Homer’s epic. The Odyssey has also inspired many other projects like the novel/film Cold Mountain and the Coen Brothers’ 2000 film O Brother, Where Art Thou?  The Odyssey serves as a strong template for all travel movies because of its story of a man who overcomes challenges by the outside world and returns home a superior person. This motif is universal for many travel movies.
 
Due Date, for example, shares many common plot points of The Odyssey. Robert Downey Jr.’s character, Peter Highman, is egotistical and short tempered, similarly to Odysseus. Peter and Odysseus are both leaders and strong strategists. Additionally, they share a common goal of wanting to return home to their respective wives. Along the way, both face many obstacles. As the story progresses, they confront obstacles each more difficult then than previous one. Although Peter never faces a Cyclops or a goddess, he is challenged and must be strong willed to in order to return home.
 
Because of its stature and influence, The Odyssey has become synonymous with travel stories. Rarely does a travel story not parallel Homer’s epic. 

New Jersey or “The Garden State” has a bad reputation amongst most New Yorkers and American citizens. There is the perception that New Jersey is associated with the mafia (The Sopranos), and is populated with guidos and guidettes (The Jersey Shore, and The Real Housewives of New Jersey). It has also been voted the third dirtiest state in America. In a New York Times article, Dr. Mappen put it best when he said, “New Jersey has been treated as a place of low taste and lack of sophistication.” Still New Jersey is able to generate revenue with a $36 billion tourism industry. Furthermore, New Jersey’s poor reputation has been propagated mostly by the media and does not always merit its maligned status.
 
During the 1930’s the WPA created a guide of New Jersey to entice tourists to visit. New Jersey, A Guide To Its Present and Past; compiled and written by the Federal Writers' Project of the Works Progress Administration for the State of New Jersey, depicts information about New Jersey ranging from its history, architecture and cultural landmarks, but perhaps that most intriguing section describes New Jersey’s folklore.  
 
One of New Jersey’s most infamous folk villains is the Leeds Devil, the official state demon. As an infant, his mother did not want the baby the stork dropped off and, instead, requested a new baby who became the Leeds Devil. According to the legend, the Leeds devil spent his adolescence in a swampland because he was also dismissed from the family. The Leeds Devil is described as “Cloven-hoofed, long-tailed, and white; with the head of a collie dog, the face of a horse, the body of a kangaroo, the wings of a bat and the disposition of a lamb.”  After becoming an adult, he began to stay out late and became “widely known to the population of southern New Jersey” for his antics. The legend also states that the Leeds Devil never hurt “a soul, nor violated even a local ordinance.” One report claims the Leeds Devil was just working on his thesis, A Plutonian Critique of Some Awful Aspects of Terrestrial life, for his doctor’s degree at the University of Hell.
 
This information from the folklore section poses the question of why include a passage about the Leeds Devil when the purpose of the guide is to promote tourism? The guide states and reiterates that the demon has the disposition of a lamb and has never caused any trouble. Thus, he is nothing to fear.  Additionally, he simply coexists with all the New Jerseyans. Perhaps, he is simply just a story to tell during a camping trip in dark New Jersey camp site.
 
 An SNL clip of New York Governors Elliot Spitzer and David Patterson hating on New Jersey:
http://www.hulu.com/watch/72445/saturday-night-live-update-gov-paterson-and-spitzer

In A “New Deal” for Leisure, Michael Berkowitz begins his essay by describing Dorothea Lange’s iconic photograph Toward Los Angeles. Toward Los Angeles depicts two migrant workers who are walking on road leading to Los Angeles. To the right of the workers is a large billboard that depicts a man reclining on a chair with the slogan “NEXT TIME TRY THE TRAIN… RELAX.” These two main focuses are symbolic of Berkowitz’s argument demonstrating the dichotomy between the working class and the unemployed and provide great insight into the government’s New Deal efforts to improve the American economy during the Great Depression.
 
During the Great Depression, there was a significant movement for Americans to tour America. One initiative that fostered this movement was the creation of the United States Travel Bureau. The United States Travel Bureau was an independent, government-sponsored department that was the “most significant contribution to the field of tourism.” The United States Travel Bureau created “newsletters, bulletins, event calendars, research reports [as well as] aids to travel agencies, transportation companies, tour operators, and members of the hospitality industry.” An example of their work might be a Dorothea Lange photograph who was paid by the government to photograph America or billboard on a highway that said “NEXT TIME TRY THE TRAIN… RELAX.” The billboard served to promote travel, which would improve the national economy by having Americans spend their money all across America. The result of the United States Travel Bureau’s “promotion and coordination efforts… helped make mass tourism during the depression.”
 
Another initiative that aided American travel was the incorporation of the paid vacation in the American workforce. The paid vacation allowed workers to take time off from work to explore America from beyond their home, “As a result of the expanding pervasiveness of paid vacations…Americans increasingly possessed the time and means to take at least a weeklong vacation.” It provided an incentive for workers to travel while still allowing them to earn a wage as they relaxed. It also increased consumer business, as when most Americans traveled, they would stay in hotels, eat at restaurants and buy souvenirs. However, a paid vacation only aided white-collar workers as one had to be employed to earn this incentive. Thus, migrant workers who were forced to travel for employment did not benefit from a paid vacation and thus, would not “relax” like upper class Americans.
 
By the end of World War II, most Americans had the time, means and desire to take at least a week long vacation. Mass tourism soon become and integral part of midcentury American life and is deeply entrenched in American culture today.