Making Banff a wild west: Norman Luxton, Indians and Banff tourism, 1902-1945 ...

• Main Author: Drees, Laurie Meijer
• Format: Master Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: University of Calgary 1991
• Subjects: G 155 C3 M44 1991; Tourist trade - Alberta - Banff - History; Luxton, Norman Kennedy; stoney
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.11575/prism/20642; https://prism.ucalgary.ca/handle/1880/24411

Bibliography: p. 112-118. ... : This thesis examines the role of Norman Kenney Luxton as entrepreneur in the early history of the tourist industry of Banff, Alberta. Luxton established many of Banff’s first tourist attractions and actively shaped an image for the town between his arrival in 1902, and the end of World War II in 1945. This thesis focusses on the nature of the Wild West image Luxton actively promoted, and seeks to explain why that image was so popular in the opening decades of the twentieth century. Luxton sold his image through the items he offered for sale in his curio shop, the Sign of the Goat. As well, Luxton promoted a Wild West image through the Banff Indian Days, an annual festival in Banff attracting tourists from around the world that Luxton popularized. This study reveals that the Wild West image was not only an integral part and reflection of Luxton's own personality, but also appealed to the local Stoney Indian population and visiting tourists for a number of different reasons. Banff has traditionally been ...