More than a Pastime: The Evolution of Tourism in Wilton and Beyond
Join the Wilton Historical Society on Thursday, June 18 at 7 p.m. for a presentation by Prof. Eric Zuelow exploring the history of travel and tourism in Wilton and as a global phenomenon.
Tourism is far more than a pastime. It is an economic engine, a source of cultural propaganda, a pathway to self-improvement and healthfulness, and a shaper of identities. It fueled the reformation of landscapes, was utilized to various ends by political regimes of all stripes, and perhaps most of all, helped to convince all of us that we desperately “need a vacation.” How and why did all of this happen? Travel, regardless of conveyance, is often arduous, so what drew people to travel for fun? How and why did tastes change over time? This lecture will trace the evolution of tourism globally, while illustrating how much larger changes impacted the people of Wilton.
Zuelow (University of New England) is among the leading historians of modern tourism. He is author or editor of six books, including A History of Modern Tourism (Palgrave, 2015) and the Oxford Handbook of Tourism History (Oxford University Press, 2025), as well as editor of Journal of Tourism History.
