Whitt’s Barbecue in Athens and Old Greenbrier Restaurant in Madison-annexed Limestone County are among the first restaurants to be inducted into the newly created Alabama Barbecue Hall of Fame.

Gov. Robert Bentley announced the hall of fame Tuesday and the first class of 29 inductees, all of which have been open for at least 50 years.

“The State of Alabama has become a destination for barbecue lovers across the country,” Bentley said in a press release. “The hall of fame provides a way for us to celebrate the great restaurants that have made Alabama a tourist attraction. Those being recognized are significant members of their communities, and I encourage Alabamians to get out and enjoy the 29 restaurants being honored.”