
Known as the largest continuously flowing natural waterfall in Missouri, Grand Falls is a must-stop-photo-op for visitors. This is a favorite stop for Rouge 66 travelers in Missouri for photo-ops! The mural is located at 619 S. Jutting out in three dimensions from the mural is a mock 1964 red Chevrolet Corvette. The lower mural is called "The American Ribbon", tracing the route of the Mother Road from Chicago to Los Angeles.
The upper mural is called "Cruisin’ into Joplin", and showing a vintage Buick arriving in Joplin on Route 66 from the west. The Route 66 Mural Park in Joplin features two nostalgic murals and an oversized 45-record imprint of "Get Your Kicks on Route 66". This is only one of many murals painted throughout the downtown area. Shown here is the mural in downtown Joplin, Missouri at Pearl Brothers Hardware Store. Map showing the approximate location of Joplin on Historic Route 66 in Missouri Read about these and other attractions and things to do at the Visit Joplin Website.
Wildcat Glades Conservation & Audubon Center. There are a number of attractions and things to see that are popular with residents and Route 66 travelers, including these: Today, Joplin is an energetic, thriving city. The people of Joplin are tough, and resilient, as evidenced by their response and recovery from the massive EF-5 tornado which devastated parts of Joplin on May 22, 2011. " Joplin, Missouri" is among the lyrics to Bobby Troup's legendary song, immortalizing the city among others on the famous Mother Road. The city gained travelers as Route 66 passed through it in the 1920s. Joplin was established in 1873 and expanded significantly from the wealth created by the mining of zinc. The area is also served by Joplin Regional Airport. It is located on Interstate 44, Interstate 49 and Historic Route 66. Joplin is the largest city in Jasper County, with a population of over 50,000 residents and over 175,000 in the Joplin Metro area. Joplin is very near the Missouri-Kansas state line and is about 7 miles east of Galena, Kansas.Įarly view of Main Street in Joplin. We've driven much of Route 66, including multiple segments across Missouri, and visits to Joplin.Ī popular stop on Route 66 today is the city of Joplin, in southern Jasper County and northern Newton County in the southwestern corner of Missouri. Like other Route 66 segments, the actual alignment varied over the years as engineering improvements were constructed. The Mother Road followed much of the Kickapoo, or Osage, Trail, an Indian trail that later became the Old Wire Road. Route 66 across Missouri stretched 317 miles and connected a variety of large cities and small towns, traversing rolling hills and valleys.
Heading westbound in Missouri, the route traveled through these cites and towns:
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Starting in Chicago, westbound travelers traversed a series of towns in Illinois before arriving in St. " The Mother Road" was established on November 11, 1926, and ultimately stretched 2,448 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles.