14. Jumpstarting Tourism and Leisure Industries
The expansion of railroads in the 19th and early 20th centuries revolutionized tourism by providing accessible travel to remote destinations and national parks. Railroad companies recognized the potential for leisure travel and actively promoted these destinations. For example, the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway constructed a line from Williams, Arizona, to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon in 1901, and built the El Tovar Hotel in 1905 to accommodate travelers. (nps.gov) This collaboration between railroads and national parks led to the development of resorts, tour companies, and the broader American vacation industry, making leisure travel more accessible and popular. (nationalparks.org)
