Discover Jasper: Route 66, History and Unique Museums

Jasper is a destination for anyone who wants to combine American history, Route 66 culture and unusual museums. There are also outdoor experiences such as the trails in Wildcat Park and Grand Falls. Families with different interests can plan a varied stay: one day can follow historic trails, while another leads to art, minerals or nature. When looking for a vacation rental or vacation home, it is therefore worthwhile to use your preferred travel focus as a guide when choosing accommodation.

History and Route 66 in Carthage

In Carthage, the Battle of Carthage State Historic Site commemorates the Battle of Carthage, considered the earliest large-scale battle of the American Civil War and fought eleven days before Bull Run. The site includes a peaceful meadow and the spring where Union and Confederate troops camped during the battle. Also located in Carthage is the Jasper County Courthouse, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It features exhibits on the history of Route 66, military artifacts and mining samples, as well as the mural “Forged in Fire” by Lowell Davis.

Carthage is located at the intersection of historic Route 66 and the Jefferson Highway. The Historic Homes Driving Tour is a self-guided tour through one of Missouri’s largest historic districts, which is also listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Along the way, you will see architecturally significant homes. This tour is especially interesting if you prefer discovering historic architecture as part of the townscape rather than in a traditional exhibition.

Museums, Art and Unique Collections

The Phelps House is a remarkable example of residential architecture from the Victorian era in the late 19th century. Public tours are available by appointment, so you should plan this attraction separately. An unusual collection awaits you at the National Cookie Cutter Historical Museum. It is the only museum of its kind in the United States and displays thousands of historic, advertising and seasonal cookie cutters.

At the Everett J. Ritchie Tri-State Mineral Museum, mineral samples and an entrance modeled after a mine shaft illustrate the region’s mining culture. The collection includes lead and zinc ores as well as other minerals from the Tri-State District. Those interested in art will find a calendar of courses, holiday programs and upcoming events at the Spiva Center for the Arts.

The Precious Moments Chapel combines hand-painted art and architecture: It contains 85 murals and 30 stained-glass windows. The permanent exhibition at the Precious Moments Museum includes original works of art, rare prototypes and pieces that have not previously been shown to the public. At the Precious Moments Gardens, winding paths lead past bronze fountains and artistically decorated wrought-iron gates; there are also quiet places for reflection.

Joplin: City History, Murals and Evening Entertainment

Joplin expands the cultural range of the trip. The Joplin History & Mineral Museum is a complex of several small museums. The exhibitions cover, among other things, Route 66, Bonnie and Clyde’s activities in Joplin, historic cookie cutters and the city’s sports history. In Joplin’s City Hall, the “Evolution of a Mural” exhibition displays design sketches and one of the few surviving three-dimensional clay models by Thomas Benton.

Thomas Hart Benton’s mural “Joplin at the Turn of the Century, 1896–1906” was his last signed mural and was dedicated in 1973 for Joplin’s 100th anniversary. In the Historic Murphysburg District, historic plaques identify the homes, give their names and state the years they were built. This makes self-guided walking tours possible. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2015. Three large tile mosaic murals also await you at Route 66 Mural Park.

For an initial overview, the Joplin Route 66 Visitor Center provides information about the history of Joplin and the Four States region, displays historic photographs and a Route 66 gallery, and provides information about the murals in the historic City Hall. If you choose your travel time accordingly, you can also plan to attend Third Thursday: The monthly festival takes place in Joplin from March through October, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Nature, Sweets and Unique Route 66 Experiences

The Wildcat Park Trails extend for more than four miles through chert glades and forests, pass caves and climb to limestone bluffs overlooking Shoal Creek. Grand Falls is known as Missouri’s largest naturally continuously flowing waterfall. These destinations provide a clear landscape accent alongside the historic and urban experiences.

At Candy House Gourmet, you can watch the confectioners at work in the kitchen through the windows. Products made there include toffee, caramel pecan specialties, brittle, fudge, divinity, pecan bars and sea-salt caramels. Red Oak II features buildings from the early 20th century, including a general store, a Phillips 66 gas station, an old schoolhouse and an old cemetery. Since Red Oak II is a private community, visitors are asked to remain on the gravel road.

The restored 66 Drive-In Theatre is also part of the Route 66 selection. It offers two movies for the price of one, as well as a well-equipped snack bar, and is open seasonally. Depending on whether you prefer historic tours, museums, nature trails or evening entertainment, you can choose your vacation rental or vacation home based on your preferred travel pace and then put together the individual sightseeing stops selectively.

More destinations in the portal: Vernon County, Marion County, Cedar, Livingston, Franklin County and Lawrence County.

For the broader travel overview: Missouri.