Synopses & Reviews
Much more than a ribbon of crumbling asphalt, Route 66 is a cultural icon revered the world over for its nostalgia valuean east-west artery pointing America toward all the promise that the great West represented. But as stretches of Steinbecks Mother Road” were bypassed and fell into disuse, so too did most of the bustling establishments that had sprouted up from Illinois to California to cater to weary travelers and hopeful vacationers alike. Motor courts, cafes, main streets, filling stations, and greasy spoonsall are represented in this second volume of Lost & Found images from photographer Russell Olsen. As with its predecessor, Route 66 Lost & Found (2004), this new installment presents dozens of locations along Route 66s entire 2,297 miles, showing them both as in their heydays in period photographs and postcards and as they appear today. Each site is accompanied by a capsule history tracing the locales rise and fall (and sometimes rebirth), as well as an exclusive map pointing out its location along Route 66.
Review
Ruidoso News (NM), July 28, 2006
“Author Russell Olsen has thoroughly researched the specific sites featured and provides a synopsis of each. The combination of text and photos make this book more than a pretty coffee-table book, Route 66 aficionados will want to add this descriptive tome to their collections.”
Auto Aficionado, March/April 2007
“Author Russell Olson has unearthed old photos and postcards of various buildings, landmarks and towns which he carefully researches and then rediscovers and takes pictures of them as they are today.”
Review
Daily Express (UK), Aug. 19, 2006
“I could barely put this down.”
About the Author
RUSSELL OLSEN began exploring and photographing Route 66 in 1995. On his first trip down the Mother Road he unexpectedly shot 27 rolls of film. Annual trips followed and in 1998 Olsen set out on his Lost & Found” project, collecting vintage postcards, photographing Route 66, and publishing the first volume of Route 66 Lost & Found (2004). Born and raised in South Chicago, Olsen today lives in North Hollywood, California. His work can be viewed at www.route66lostandfound.com.