Tourism in the Southeast is often associatedwith Florida-a state that essentially defined the industry in America. YetAlabama has a fascinating history of tourism all its own. It all began with anenterprising politician. In 1916, John Hollis Bankhead went to great lengths toensure that one of America's first transcontinental highways went directlythrough Alabama. Though it was a less efficient route for highway travelers, itmarked the birth of Alabama's fledgling tourism industry, which grewexponentially with each passing decade. Since he was a boy, author Tim Hollishas traveled from the Shoals to the coast and amassed an unrivaled knowledge ofAlabama tourism. From restored and preserved historic destinations to campytourist traps and outrageous roadside attractions, this is the complete storyof tourism in Alabama.