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Originally Posted by IWant2BeInSTL
^ not seeing how that's a pop culture reference. in that case, every historical event/character is a pop culture reference. also, please go back and read the OP's criteria/posting instructions.
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I think it depends. Something like the birth of aviation in and of itself might be considered a purely historic event now. But in its time, I'm sure it was very popular in the cultural zeitgeist & the imaginations of many around the world. The air travel industry that it ultimately led to certainly has its fair share of pop culture icons. Things like the sleek aesthetics and branding of Pan Am, for example, come to my mind. Maybe that's too big of a leap, but it does seem different than citing something like New Haven, CT as the place of death of Eli Whitney, inventor of the Cotton Gin. The Cotton Gin isn't exactly memorialized in pop culture. Or maybe it was...bad example!? Were there cotton gin toys that kids played with in 1790's America?
Anyway, thanks for the nudge, RE the OP's criteria for posting. Maybe his rules were too complicated... I suspect most just aren't reading the first post when they jump in. I don't really mind if folks just want to share about their own cities. I just thought it would be more interesting & challenging if we were required to consider each other's hometowns ahead of our own. And it would be OK if you guess wrong about another city - that is meant to be part of the "fun" - so that we can learn about our own perceptions / misconceptions.
I intentionally chose the wording of "Your City in Pop Culture" vs. "What is Your City Known For?" - because Pop Culture is a bit harder to place into context. Both of the examples I've shared for my hometown of Kalamazoo thus far are "historic" in the sense that they no longer exist here. Checker Motors & Gibson Guitars blew out of town 4 decades ago. But they both still resonate in Pop Culture (I think).
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Anyway, to try and keep it going, for Alaska - in general, I think tourism, mainly cruises and outdoor excursions. That's pretty general, but I think I could argue it is still pop culture - it certainly gets advertised often as a destination for thrill seekers (well, at least prior to 2020, and hopefully again soon in the future).
That means I have to come up with a third one for Kalamazoo (see how that works?). A more contemporary item that I think most would recognize is beer, and specifically, Bell's Brewery. You want to get even more specific? Bell's Two Hearted Ale (American-Style IPA), voted best beer in America four times in a row through 2020 by the American Homebrewers Association (AHA). Bell's is the oldest existing craft brewery in Michigan, and as of 2020, Bell's is distributing in 42 States and Puerto Rico.
Hands up if you've had this beer!
Source:
Bell's Beer