At The Dawn of Tourism in Florida: Abolitionists, Print Media, and Images from early Vacationers

John T. Foster Jr. makes a compelling argument that the birth of tourism in Florida did not begin with the railroad barons of the 1880s as is popularly believed, but with abolitionist writers of the Reconstruction era, following the Civil War. Progressive Northerners were lured to the state with colorful descriptions of desirable weather and abundant natural beauty. It was with these forward-thinking writers that Modern Florida was born. The extraordinary rush of visitors continues [in Florida.] There has never such a crowd as there has been this season, and still they come. The hotels are full and would be were there twice as many of them. It is plain that Florida is to be a greater place for winter tourists than Saratoga is in summer. Already the number in ... Florida exceeds the aggregate of the summer crowd at Newport, Saratoga and Long Branch. Every winter brings more, and new hotels keep going up. The St. James in Jacksonville has just made a cash dividend of 88.1 per cent, for its year in business.The crowd of northerners in Florida are a lot like boys just let out of school, it is one continuous frolic and holiday. Finding themselves really safe, out of the rigors of northern winter, and in a climate of flowers and fruit and sunshine, they give themselves up to enjoyment. Excursions on the river every day; rambles after fruit and flowers; drives, card parties, sailing parties it is one round pleasure. Even Canada is beginning to learn that there is such a place as Florida and the frozen western states are pouring in. Two or three winters hence Florida will be full of them. -- Oswego Daily Palladium, March 18, 1875

Distinguished historian Eric Foner "enjoyed reading" At the Dawn, and said he "learned a great deal" about "a little known aspect of Reconstruction."

John's other book - Calling Yankees to Florida

With the publication of her novel Uncle Tom's Cabin in 1852, Harriet Beecher Stowe became the most famous writer in America. That book helped to fuel the raging debate over slavery in the United States. When Stowe met President Abraham Lincoln in 1862, he reportedly said, So you are the little woman who started this great war. Often overlooked is the fact that Harriet Beecher Stowe was also one of the first and greatest proponents of Florida as a popular tourist destination. In 1873, some of Stowe's descriptive and colorful tourist articles were published in the book Palmetto-Leaves. Calling Yankees to Florida: Harriet Beecher Stowe's Forgotten Tourist Articles, contains fascinating vignettes of Florida life not included in Palmetto-Leaves, with insightful commentary by John Foster Jr. and Sarah Whitmer Foster. This new edition features Stowe's meeting with Mary Richards, a famous African American spy, and an introduction by the nationally known novelist Lois Leveen.