Books by Joe Sonderman

New Mexico is "The Land of Enchantment," offering a fascinating blend of Native American, Spanish Colonial, and Western American cultures. The travelers from the East knew they had arrived in the great Southwest when they entered New Mexico--the towns along Route 66 were ablaze in neon, and the motels lured travelers with Western themes, Pueblo Revival architecture, and Native American trading posts. An adventure still awaits the traveler today who takes the time to exit I-40 and leave the franchised blandness behind. The neon still flickers at the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, on Central Avenue in Albuquerque, and at the El Rancho Hotel in Gallup. The "Fat Man" still smiles at Joseph's Bar and Grill in Santa Rosa. The stories behind those landmarks are here, as well as the stories behind establishments that are lost forever or slowly crumbling to dust among the tumbleweeds.

Route 66 in Arizona is a ribbon tying together spectacular natural attractions such as the Grand Canyon, the Petrified Forest, the Painted Desert, and the Meteor Crater. There were plenty of man-made diversions along the way, too. Roadside businesses used Native American and Western imagery to lure travelers to fill up their gas tank, grab a meal, or spend the night. Roadside signs featured shapely cowgirls and big black jackrabbits, or warned of killer snakes and prehistoric monsters. Between wails of "Are we there yet?" children pleaded to stay at motels shaped like wigwams, explore the Apache Death Cave, or pick up a rubber tomahawk at a trading post.

Route 66 Highway, first built in 1926-32, offers a fantastic variety of scenery and history. This segment of the highway, from the Gateway to the West through the beautiful Ozarks, is organized in over 300 vintage postcards and color photos that capture travel on "The Mother Road" across the "Show Me State." There are stops at "no-tell motels," gas stations, cafes, roadside stands, and good, old-fashioned tourist traps. The detailed text provides histories at each stop, including icons such as Coral Court, The Diamonds, Meramec Caverns, and many more. This book is organized first chronologically and then features a tour through the Meramec Valley, from Leasburg to Rolla, the Ozarks, Lebanon to Springfield, and Springfield to the "Ghost Section." Postcard values are included in the captions. For all who enjoy the romance of the open road, this book is a treasure.