Tourism in the Southeast is often associated with Florida--a state that
essentially defined the industry in America. Yet Alabama has a
fascinating history of tourism all its own. It all began with an
enterprising politician. In 1916, John Hollis Bankhead went to great
lengths to ensure that one of America's first transcontinental highways
went directly through Alabama. Though it was a less efficient route for
highway travelers, it marked the birth of Alabama's fledgling tourism
industry, which grew exponentially with each passing decade. Since he
was a boy, author Tim Hollis has traveled from the Shoals to the coast
and amassed an unrivaled knowledge of Alabama tourism. From restored and
preserved historic destinations to campy tourist traps and outrageous
roadside attractions, this is the complete story of tourism in Alabama.