Thursday, May 21, 2026

Our Route 66 Adventures: Route 66 Mural Park

Date of Visit: April 29, 2026

The Route 66 Mural Park in Joplin is a small concrete "park" with murals on the side of a building.


One of the murals features a 3D element with half a mock 1963 Corvette.

Route 66 Tri-state Corridor

See full list of Our Route 66 Adventures here and Google map here.

Destination Info:
619 S Main St
Joplin, MO 64801

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Our Route 66 Adventures: Murals at Joplin City Hall

Date of Visit: April 29, 2026

We visited the City Hall in Joplin for the Visit Joplin stamp in the Mother Road Passport. While we didn't end up figuring out where to get the stamp, we did enjoy the murals in the City Hall as well as the exhibit about the creation of the Joplin at the Turn of the Century, 1896-1906 mural.

Route 66: Joplin, Missouri mural

Joplin at the Turn of the Century, 1896-1906 mural

Stained Glass

"Evolution of a Mural" exhibit

See full list of Our Route 66 Adventures here and Google map here.

Destination Info:
602 S. Main Street
Joplin, Missouri 64804

Our Route 66 Adventures: World Street Painting Gallery, Joplin, MO

Yeehaw 66

Date of Visit: April 29, 2026

The World Street Painting Gallery was an unplanned find near the Joplin History & Mineral Museum. These were originally done in June 2025 and it appears they will be doing more this June in honor of Route 66's 100th. Most of the art was Route 66 themed.

Take a ride with Boomer

Swing on Fanning’s rocking chair

Fly with Gallectic Galena

Downhill Jam

Crystal Cave

Ride the 66

Get Your Kicks on Route 66

Mother Road

Slot Car Racing

See full list of Our Route 66 Adventures here and Google map here.

Destination Info:
504 S. Schifferdecker Ave
Joplin, MO 64801

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Our Route 66 Adventures: Joplin History & Mineral Museum and National Cookie Cutter Historical Museum

Date of Visit: April 29, 2026

The Joplin History & Mineral Museum has been a Route 66 attraction since it opened in 1931. The main exhibits are about the tri-state mining industry and other local Joplin local history. There is also a Route 66 exhibit. Most unique is the National Cookie Cutter Historical Museum is housed inside the museum.


We started with the mineral part of the museum. It was interesting to see the different minerals and learn about the mining industry in the area. The fluorescent minerals display was a highlight of this area.


The Route 66 exhibit was of particular interest to us as we visited as part of driving Route 66. The exhibit featured displays for each of the states Route 66 goes through.


One of the interesting items in the local history section was this portable kitchen from the mid-1800s.


The local history also included local Civil War history, especially related to the Battle of Carthage.


The National Cookie Cutter Historical Museum Collection featured cookie cutters representing each of the 50 states as part of a celebrating the United States 250th.


There was also a Route 66 themed cookie cutter display.

See full list of Our Route 66 Adventures here and Google map here.

Destination Info:
504 S. Schifferdecker Ave
Joplin, MO 64801

Monday, May 18, 2026

Our Route 66 Adventures: Route 66 Welcome Center Webb City

Date of Visit: April 29, 2026

We stopped at the Route 66 Welcome Center in Webb City to get the stamp for the Mother Road Passport. The visitor center is located in an old gas station.

There is a Welcome to Webb City mural on the building behind the parking lot. We got a free magnet featuring this mural along with our stamp for the Mother Road Passport.

There is also a classic truck parked by their sign.

See full list of Our Route 66 Adventures here and Google map here.

Destination Info:
Route 66 Welcome Center
112 W Broadway St
Webb City, MO

Sunday, May 17, 2026

Our Route 66 Adventures: Red Oak II

Date of Visit: April 29, 2026

Red Oak II is a little bit off of Route 66. The "town" is a collection of various old buildings brought here from other places including the original Red Oak and some newer buildings made to fit in with the old to make the town more complete, such as the train station. We probably spent about an hour wandering around the town. Many of buildings in the town are private residences or otherwise not open to go inside, but a few of the buildings you can go inside. 

Diner

Town Hall

Feed and Seed Store

Gas Station

Peacock

Metal Sculpture Park

General Store - from original Red Oak

Phillips 66

Salem Country Church



Garfield Wiley Cabin

Hornback Cabin - Jasper County's first courthouse


Horseshoes and Insulators Sculpture

Fort Hooker

See full list of Our Route 66 Adventures here and Google map here.

Destination Info:
10917 County Loop 122
Carthage, MO 64836

Saturday, May 16, 2026

Our Route 66 Adventures: Spencer Station

 

Date of Visit: April 29, 2026

Spencer Station was an unplanned stop on our day trip of Route 66 between Springfield and Joplin, Missouri. It was not open, but we still enjoyed stopping and taking a some photos.

Spencer Station's history goes back to the 1860's as the town of Spencer. The town was abandoned in the early 1900s and in 1925, the ghost town was purchased to become a store to serve travelers on the new Route 66. It eventually included a store, service station, cafe, and barber shop. It closed in 1961 when it was bypassed. More recently it has been restored and continues to be restored with plans to be a museum and gift shop.

Restored Phillips 66 gas pumps

Also, of interest is a 1923 bridge on Route 66 just to the east of Spencer Station.

See full list of Our Route 66 Adventures here and Google map here.

Destination Info:
19720 Lawrence 2062
Miller, MO 65707