3/08/2005

Boston and the face of heritage tourism

Boston has launched its headphones and tape walking tour:
"Boston: City of Rebels and Dreamers" tour, [is] narrated by charismatic Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler.
What?
Tyler, a Massachusetts resident with deep roots in Boston, weaves the stops together. "He is someone really connected to the place, someone with a real passion for the city" ...
Am I neurotic to want to associate history with history? Wouldn't Tyler be the better choice for narrating a walking tour of Boston nightspots? Or mob rubouts?

Tourist officials are telling us something important: it's all just entertainment to them.