Glaciers as a Sacred Symbol: An Interaction Ritual Analysis of the Harriman Alaska Expedition of 1899

Abstract

ABSTRACT The preservationist John Muir and the railroad magnate Edward H. Harriman developed an unlikely friendship that can be traced to Harriman's Alaska Expedition in 1899. Primary and secondary sources were interpreted through Collins’ (2004) interaction ritual (IR) theory to reconstruct the details and evolution of their relationship. Landscapes, particularly glaciers, emerged as the key ritual outcome of their time together in Alaska. Forged as a result of Muir's announcement of the naming of the first Harriman Glacier onboard the expedition's vessel, glaciers also reflected the zeitgeist of late-nineteenth century American nationalism. Viewing the Muir-Harriman relationship through the IR theory lens provides three unique contributions to the literature: the sacralisation of a topographical element, the value of place-naming to an IR chain, and the connection of two men's IR chain to public policy that impacted the United States’ national park system.