Le tourisme de mémoire en Floride. Les Fort Caroline et De Soto National Memorials, entre développement touristique et contestations mémorielles

Abstract

This article focuses on the study of two colonial sites administered by the National Park Service. The two National Memorials deal with the colonial expeditions led by the Spanish and by the French in the sixteenth century. They have been transformed into touristic destinations where visitors are invited to relive and experience American history. They are both located outside the main touristic corridor of Florida, but the local authorities have been promoting the two sites to attract visitors. This study will show how these two experiences of touristic development compare in the recent debates over the removal of statues and monuments. The aim of this study is to understand the different political, financial and memorial levels at work in the touristic development of these two sites. It focuses particularly on the role they both play in the recent debates over the representation of native populations in history.