Sunshine Paradise
Sunshine Paradise
A History of Florida Tourism
For nearly two hundred years, Floridians have eagerly exploited tourism as the key to economic prosperity. As a result, the state has constantly reshaped and remodeled itself as different types of tourist heavens, and many aspects of its history have become inseparable from the fantastic images created by the tourism industry. From spa retreats to nature preserves, from riverboat rides to roller coasters, and from railroads to theme parks, the state’s dependence on tourism has greatly shaped its identity. Sunshine Paradise is the first book to focus exclusively on how—and why—tourism came to define Florida. Offering a concise look at the subject from the 1820s to the present, Tracy Revels demonstrates tourism’s relevance to all other major aspects of Florida history, including the Civil War, the land boom, and civil rights. In this enjoyable and well-written history, Revels shows how Florida’s tourism industry has remained adaptive and expansive, ready to sell the next version of paradise to northerners hungry for sunshine. She also explains why the state’s business and political leaders must consider the history of tourism development as they plan for the state’s future. A volume in the Florida History and Culture Series, edited by Raymond Arsenault and Gary R. Mormino
Naturally becomes a baseline body of work from which to understand historical tourism development. Highly recommended.’—Choice ‘[A] much-welcomed, concise survey of Florida tourism from the days of Ponce de León to the present. . . . Provid[es] an engaging narrative. Tourists’ letters, popular travel guides, and the most recent scholarship inform this statewide study. Academics, students, and general readers interested in tourism and southern history will find this a rigorous, entertaining, and insightful overview.’—Journal of American History ‘This well-researched, tightly organized and highly readable account of the interaction between the Florida tourist industry and the tourists it attracted offers insights into the evolution of social, economic and environmental attitudes of residents and visitors alike. It is an entertaining romp through Florida history.’—American Studies Journal ‘Synthesizes existing scholarship on the history of Florida tourism into a lithe volume. . . . An important contribution to the field of Florida’s economic and social development.’—Journal of Southern History ‘A narrative history embedded with analysis, this work does a good job of describing the evolution of tourism in Florida. Not shying away from the downsides of tourism there—racism, environmental damage, unfortunate impacts on host communities—the book illustrates just how important tourism has long been for Florida’s economic and social development.’—Cambridge Business History Review
An enlightening journey through Florida’s diverse and evolving tourism history, illustrating the changing face of tourism over the years, and how Floridians have coped with these changes. An informative look at Florida’s past efforts to woo tourists, and the mixed blessings that tourism has brought to the Sunshine State.'—Brian Rucker, author of Image and Reality 'At last—a readable, concise history of Florida tourism from the earliest European discovery to the present. Revels’s prose sizzles. Her ability to summarize and analyze more than 300 years of Florida tourism in just over 200 pages is truly stunning. It is a remarkable achievement. Sunshine Paradise both entertains and informs on every page, and it should be required reading for policy makers and everyone else who needs to know how current Florida came to be.'—James M. Denham, professor of history and director, Lawton M. Chiles Jr., Center for Florida History, Florida Southern College
Tracy J. Revels, professor and chair of history at Wofford College, is the author of Grander in Her Daughters: Florida’s Women during the Civil War and Florida’s Civil War: Terrible Sacrifices.
