Joe Sonderman Series: Then and Now® Hardcover | 144 pages Travel / Pictorials Route 66 Then and Now travels the Mother Road with a bunch of classic old photos, revealing what is still there, what's been beautifully preserved and what has disappeared forever. The ‘Mother Road’ or the ‘Will Rogers Highway’ has been open since 1926. Its heyday was the WWII and post-war era and many roadside structures sprang up to cater for the “tin-can tourists” making the journey from East to West. Gas stations, motels, and diners all had to compete for business and what better way to attract attention than with a wacky feature such as a wigwam motel, an iceberg cafe, or a whale-themed diner.