See Alabama First : 
Subtitle: The Story of Alabama Tourism
Publisher: The History Press
Published: Mar 12, 2013
Language: eng
Format: paperback
Number of pages: 208
ISBN-13: 9781609494889
Description: 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.
Notes: Source title: See Alabama First:: The Story of Alabama Tourism