Nostalgia and Heritage in the Carousel City: Community Identity and Creative Destruction

Summary

The "Carousel City" label for the Binghamton area stems from market "re-branding" for heritage tourism. The carousels were a gift from George F. Johnson, a welfare capitalist whose factories dominated the landscape until they were shuttered in the 20th century. They represent a material remnant of a prosperous, idealized past in a de-industrialized landscape. Archaeological research contests this idealized vision of the past and reveals the role of capitalist processes of creative destruction in creating the urban landscape. This story tarnishes the joyous image of carousels and directly challenges contemporary community identity. However, the nostalgic trap of community identity that academics seek to avoid is also a source of strength and pride for many in their contemporary struggles with neoliberal transformations. Archaeologists need to take this nostalgia seriously, entering into real, sustained dialogue with communities, and recognizing that this dialogue leads to uncomfortable places and problematic outcomes.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Post-industrial Landscapes, Communities, and Heritage   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2018

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Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 313