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Introduction: History of Tourism
The history of tourism has evolved over the past few centuries with advances in transportation, the advent of the National Park System, and most recently, how entire cities like Las Vegas are formed around consumption and tourism; however, some things remain the same. Namely, tourism is dominated by the elite members of society, people rich enough to afford to take time off work and restore their wellbeing through travel. -
Travel to Hot Springs and Spas
Anglican and Puritan values reject anything frivolous like travel.
When people did travel in the 1600s, the travel consisted of visits to nearby spas and hot springs, to drink their medicinal waters and restore their wellbeing. A rise of rural baths and spas occurred in the late 1700s and were frequented by colonists such as George Washington. Like modern times, traveling and vacations were a pastime for the elite--often under the guise of “wellness” and restoring health. -
Rise of Seaside Resorts
Amid the commercialization of natural features, seaside and mountain resorts grew in popularity as well. They were regarded for their beauty and restorative seaside features. The Omni Homestead Resort in Newport, RI was founded in 1766, becoming the first resort in the US. At the tip of Southern New Jersey, Cape May was another seaside resort that has housed many distinguished guests such as Robert. E Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, and Abe Lincoln. -
Commercialization of Natural Wonders
Natural features, labeled as "Scenic Wonders,” attracted visitors and gave rise to commercialization. Places like Niagara Falls attracted visitors from the Northeast and hotels and restaurants quickly took root in the nearby town. The Mount Washington Auto Road is considered America’s first man-made attraction even though Mt. Washington as a natural feature has existed for millennia. -
Railroad Travel
Within the US, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was a popular carrier train service. Americans were attracted to using the railroad as it offered an easy and smooth ride for passengers. Some offered meals and sleeping cabins, however, this was most accessible to wealthier individuals. The SC Canal and Railroad Company started using steam locomotives that were the first American for-revenue railroad service. Overall, train travel increased due to the wonders of the industrial revolution. -
Urban Ethnic Tourism
Ethnic urban tourism was a phenomenon in the late 19th century and beginning of the 20th century. NY’s Chinatown became the object of a considerable “slumming” trend. Neighborhoods such as the Jewish Lower East Side and Little Italy followed suit decades later. As NY developed as a tourist city, “slumming”—sight-seeing trips into poor districts—became both more organized and standardized, and the spectacle of ethnicity and race became an important “sight” in the city (Novy 16-17). -
Travel Agents
Established in 1887, Brownell Travel was the first travel agency in the U.S. Travel experts were paid to make sure your leisure time was best spent and spent at the companies that gave them commissions. People wanted to reduce the frustrations of planning their travel and by 2020, there were about 60,500 people working as Travel Agents in the U.S. Now largely online, travel agencies like Expedia.com are paid by airlines, hotels, and tourist attractions to be featured in search results. -
Sports Tourism
First hosted by the U.S. in 1904, the Olympics are one of the biggest sporting tourist events in the world. The Olympics are a form of sport event tourism as people are traveling to spectate the games. Active sports tourism, such as the Boston Marathon, and nostalgia sports tourism, such as the baseball hall of fame (opened 1936), have grown into popularity as well. Different sporting events are popular with different types of consumers, as seen by the high end sponsors of the tennis U.S. open. -
National Parks System Created
In 1872, Congress established Yellowstone National Park "as a public park or pleasuring-ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people". In the years following, the US added national parks and monuments, reflecting changes for the growing desire to escape. On August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the act creating the National Park Service. As the automobile began to be more popular in the 40s, these parks saw more and more visitors. -
Rise of Las Vegas, NV
The construction of the Hoover Dam created a market for large-scale entertainment. Local LV business owners and mafias helped develop casinos and showgirl theaters to entertain the male dam construction workers. Realizing that gambling would be profitable, the NV legislature legalized gambling in 1931. Visitors came from all over to partake in low-cost luxury and the thrill of fantasies fulfilled in casinos. Here we see an entire city erected on the basis of consumption (“Las Vegas”). -
Evolution of Car Travel
During the 1940 and 50s, the car industry was going through a significant boom, completely shifting the way Americans traveled. The major expansion of highways and the creation of the interstate system, introduced by President Eisenhower, increased car travel across the country. Road-tripping was encouraged as cars continued to cater to individual tastes. Ranging from convertibles to family-friendly station wagons, this created a market for all individuals to travel quickly and conveniently. -
Disney World and Theme Parks
Disneyland, opened in 1955, marked a turning point for the city of Anaheim; the crowds that Disneyland attracted reversed the trend of migration out of the city. Disney World, opened in 1971, expanded upon the vision. It promised fun for everyone, an escape from reality into a fantasy world. In 1991, the New York Times reported that Disney World ranked fourth as a tourist attraction worldwide, ranking only below France, the U.S., and Spain. Disney delivered a worry-free leisure experience. -
Commercial Plane Travel
After World War II, commercial plane travel started to boom. While Pan American began flying passengers in 1939, in June 1945, the US Civil Aeronautics Board granted permission to American Export Airlines, PA, and TWA to operate across the Atlantic. By 1950, the transatlantic route became widely popular. The Concorde also gained popularity for its mesmerizing speed and technology in the 1960s, allowing Americans to fly to Europe in three hours. Plane travel became mainstream by the 1970s. -
Conclusion
Tourism in the United States has changed and also stayed the same in many ways. Transportation technology, entertainment, and monuments have transformed how people travel. Whether it be through parks such as Disney World or cities such as Las Vegas, people are now able to engage with new and interesting forms of tourism that were previously not possible before. As we look towards the future, it will be interesting to see how climate change and increasing inequality will impact destinations. -