Not to be confused with travel literature which records in a coherent narrative the observations and feelings of an author who is touring for the sake and pleasure of travel, guidebooks provide practical information and details for travelers about their locality, destination or itinerary.
In 1829 Karl Baedeker published a German language guide to the Rhine Valley and the guidebook template was set: sites, costs, lodging, dining, maps, illustrations.
Today, in addition to the usual general, all-encompassing guides (i.e. Fodor’s, Lonely Planet, Rough Guides, AAA) there are specialized niche markets – with dogs, with children, literary, culinary, historic houses, railroads, trails, theme parks, and niches within niches – gays, vegans, artists, geologists, bikers, religious and ethnic groups, etc.
Written to be a practical guide, once a guidebook is no longer contemporaneous it becomes historical, providing a portrait of a place at that time. They show historical trends : railroad travel being outpaced by automobile travel, “destination travel” by air, the rise of RVers, outdoor recreation being complemented by art and cultural activities, and the rise of specialized tourism niches.
Out-of-date guidebooks help document business and cultural history of a place and time – openings, closings, moves. For example, Denver’s Forney Transportation Museum (est. 1968, admission $1.75) has been in three locations: LaPorte Avenue, 1416 Platte Street, and finally 4304 Brighton Boulevard (admission is now $7). Along the way Forney purchased Denver’s Historic Wax Museum, originally at 919 Bannock.
What would we do without them? Where would we stay, eat, go?
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