Touring the West

Fred Harvey and the Santa Fe Railway teamed up to develop tourism in the American Southwest from the late 1880s to the 1960s. These two companies formed an interdependent alliance that welcomed travelers thirsty for a civilized "western experience." The Harvey Company provided first class food served by friendly "Harvey Girls" on the trains and offered grand accommodations near the stations, and both Fred Harvey and the Santa Fe energetically promoted the Southwest through marketing strategies, including hundreds of postcard images of scenic landscapes and historic cultures in New Mexico and Arizona. Over 285 color images and accompanying text offer a brief history of the Santa Fe Railway and the Fred Harvey Company as they promoted Santa Fe, Albuquerque, the Grand Canyon, the regions Native American cultures, and International expositions outside the Southwest. Approximate ages of each postcard and associated values make the book a useful resource for postcard collectors as well as history buffs. Come along on the ride and enjoy the scenery.