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artwork were found in small curio Souvenir shops have been a part
shops located in and near Florida’s of Florida’s roadside landscape
resort hotels. since the 1920s. As Florida’s
Larry Roberts’s book published roadways expanded and improved,
in 2001, Florida’s Golden Age entrepreneurs opened roadside
of Souvenirs, 1890-1930 gives businesses, a key part of the
collectors a fantastic look at Florida’s tourism experience,
the origins of Florida tourism capitalizing on burgeoning
souvenirs. The four decades automobile tourism.
that followed, however, provided For travelers, souvenirs were
some of the most synonymous with a Florida
colorful, vacation. Bringing home a
creative and treasured memento of a
stylistic trip to Florida became an
Florida American tradition.
souvenirs. At the beginning of the
The rise 20t h century, Florida
of the souvenirs
automobile could most
opened commonly
Florida to everyday be found in
travelers and larger cities in
drastically changed the downtown
the Florida souvenir retail districts
industry. Traveling to frequented by
Florida was no longer tourists.
limited to the wealthy winter Jacksonville’s Bay Street is
visitors - the working class could often considered the birthplace
now vacation in Florida. of Florida souvenir shops. By the
Tourist attractions soon sprouted early 1920s, Central Avenue in
up throughout the Florida St. Petersburg boasted numerous
peninsula. Motor courts lined the specialty shops specializing in
highways, and so did roadside Florida souvenirs. St. Augustine,
souvenir shops. The souvenir Tampa and Miami also boasted
industry flourished, and many numerous souvenir shops and
manufacturers and distributors manufacturers.
were based in Florida. Studies But the growth of automobile
during the 1950s estimated that travel meant Florida’s roadside would
10 to 15% of tourist expenditures be the best place to reach tourists.
were for souvenirs. Continued>

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