At the Battle of Carthage State Historic Site, a spring is a reminder of the Civil War; in Joplin, mosaics and exhibits tell the story of Route 66. There are also unusual museum collections, historic architecture, and landscapes with a character all their own. You can discover Jasper through specific places, objects, and historical connections.
History and Architecture
The Battle of Carthage is considered the earliest large-scale battle of the American Civil War and took place eleven days before Bull Run. The Battle of Carthage State Historic Site includes a quiet meadow and the spring where Union and Confederate troops camped during the battle. Here, the historical context of the event meets a specific historic site.
In Carthage, the self-guided Historic Homes Driving Tour takes you through one of Missouri’s largest historic districts. The district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the tour features architecturally significant homes. In the Historic Murphysburg District, historic markers also make it possible to explore on your own: they identify homes, give their names, and list the years they were built. The district was added to the National Register in 2015.
The Jasper County Courthouse is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its exhibits include topics related to the history of Route 66, military artifacts, and mining samples, as well as Lowell Davis’s mural “Forged in Fire.” Red Oak II offers a different look at buildings from the early 20th century, including a general store, a Phillips 66 gas station, an old schoolhouse, and an old cemetery. Red Oak II is a private community; visitors are asked to stay on the gravel road.
Museums, Art, and Collections
The Joplin History & Mineral Museum is a complex made up of several small museums. Exhibits cover topics including Route 66, Bonnie and Clyde’s activities in Joplin, historic cookie cutters, and the city’s sports history. Visitors with a particular interest in the route can also find historic photographs and a Route 66 gallery at the Joplin Route 66 Visitor Center. The center shares information about the history of Joplin and the Four States region and provides details about the murals in the historic city hall.
At city hall, the “Evolution of a Mural” exhibit features design sketches and one of the few surviving three-dimensional clay models by Thomas Benton. His mural “Joplin at the Turn of the Century, 1896–1906” was Benton’s last signed mural and was dedicated in 1973 for Joplin’s 100th anniversary. These two glimpses—into the designs and into a finished work—offer different facets of the city’s public art history.
Smaller collecting interests also tell stories of their own. The National Cookie Cutter Historical Museum is the only museum of its kind in the United States and displays thousands of historic, advertising, and seasonal cookie cutters. The collection at the Everett J. Ritchie Tri-State Mineral Museum includes lead and zinc ores, along with other minerals from the Tri-State District. Mineral samples and an entrance modeled on a mine shaft illustrate the region’s mining culture.
The Precious Moments Chapel contains 85 hand-painted murals and 30 stained-glass windows. The permanent exhibition at the Precious Moments Museum includes original artwork, rare prototypes, and pieces that have not previously been shown to the public. The Precious Moments Gardens offer a more tranquil setting: winding paths, bronze fountains, and elaborately decorated wrought-iron gates define the grounds, which also include quiet places for reflection. The Phelps House, meanwhile, is a remarkable example of late 19th-century Victorian residential architecture. Public tours are available by appointment.
Landscape, Routes, and Events
The Wildcat Park Trails extend for more than four miles through chert glades and forests, past caves and up to limestone bluffs overlooking Shoal Creek. Grand Falls is known as Missouri’s largest naturally flowing waterfall that runs continuously. These natural attractions provide a contrast to the museums and historic homes, without requiring you to combine them into a single outing.
The history of the routes is also part of the discovery: Carthage lies at the intersection of historic Route 66 and the Jefferson Highway. In Joplin, the Route 66 Mural Park features three large tile mosaic murals. The restored 66 Drive-In Theatre offers two movies for the price of one and a well-stocked concession stand. It is open seasonally; check the schedule before you go.
For events, the Spiva Center for the Arts maintains a calendar of classes, holiday programs, and upcoming events. Third Thursday is a monthly festival in Joplin that runs from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. from March through October. Check the event dates in advance if you would like to plan your visit around them.
Discover more destinations: Joplin, Carthage, Ste. Genevieve County, Phelps, Douglas, Dunklin County, Platte, Monroe County
For the broader travel overview: Missouri.
