Jasper: Discover Museums, History, and Nature

Jasper offers different perspectives on history, art, and landscape. In Carthage, Civil War history and historic homes take center stage; Joplin combines Route 66 themes with museums and art. There are also collections, gardens, and trails in nature. The focus you choose can also guide your choice of hotel for your stay.

History and Route 66

The Battle of Carthage is considered the earliest large-scale battle of the American Civil War and took place eleven days before Bull Run. At the Battle of Carthage State Historic Site, a peaceful meadow and a spring recall the Union and Confederate troops who camped there during the battle. It offers a way to explore a historical event at a specific location.

The Historic Homes Driving Tour in Carthage offers another way to discover architecture. The self-guided tour passes through one of Missouri’s largest historic districts, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and showcases architecturally significant homes. In the Historic Murphysburg District, markers also make self-guided tours possible: they identify homes and give their names and construction dates. 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 material on the history of Route 66, military artifacts, mining samples, and the mural “Forged in Fire” by Lowell Davis. In Carthage, historic Route 66 also meets the Jefferson Highway at an intersection. In Joplin, the Route 66 Mural Park offers a different highlight: it features three large tile mosaic murals.

Art, Homes, and Collections

The Phelps House is a notable example of late-19th-century Victorian residential architecture. Public tours are available by appointment. In Joplin, Thomas Hart Benton’s mural “Joplin at the Turn of the Century, 1896–1906” tells the story of the city: it was his last signed mural and was unveiled in 1973 to mark Joplin’s 100th anniversary. The “Evolution of a Mural” exhibit at City Hall adds to this perspective with design sketches and one of Benton’s few surviving three-dimensional clay models.

The museums also cover very different subjects. The Joplin History & Mineral Museum is a complex made up of several small museums; its exhibits cover topics including Route 66, Bonnie and Clyde in Joplin, historic cookie cutters, and the city’s sports history. The National Cookie Cutter Historical Museum is the only museum of its kind in the United States and displays thousands of historic, promotional, and seasonal cookie cutters. The Everett J. Ritchie Tri-State Mineral Museum focuses on lead and zinc ores, as well as other minerals from the Tri-State District. Mineral specimens and an entrance modeled on a mine shaft illustrate the region’s mining culture.

At Precious Moments Chapel, 85 hand-painted murals and 30 stained-glass windows are distinctive features. The permanent collection at the Precious Moments Museum includes original artwork, rare prototypes, and pieces that have not been shown publicly before. At Precious Moments Gardens, winding paths, bronze fountains, and ornate wrought-iron gates are interspersed with quiet places for reflection. These offer different ways to experience art: from an individual work to a collection to the design of a garden.

Landscape, Events, and Local Experiences

The Wildcat Park Trails extend for more than four miles. The trails pass through chert glades and forests, by caves, and up to limestone bluffs overlooking Shoal Creek. Grand Falls is considered Missouri’s largest naturally flowing waterfall that flows continuously. Visitors who want to focus their stay more on nature experiences will find distinct themes for planning alongside museums and historic architecture.

In Joplin, Third Thursday takes place monthly from March through October; the festival runs from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Event dates may change, so check them before your trip. The Spiva Center for the Arts events calendar lists classes, holiday programs, and upcoming events. The two locations offer different reasons to plan your stay around a specific date or a longer-term interest in culture.

Candy House Gourmet makes confections using its own recipes, including toffee, caramel pecan specialties, brittle, fudge, divinity, pecan bars, and sea salt caramels. Visitors can watch the confectioners at work in the kitchen through the windows. The selection may change. Red Oak II is a private community; visitors are asked to stay on the gravel road. Check visitor information before heading there.

The restored 66 Drive-In Theatre is open seasonally. Its offerings include two movies for the price of one and a well-stocked concession stand. Check current showtimes and offerings before you go.

Discover more destinations: Carthage, Joplin, Barton County, Dunklin County, Pettis County, Pike, Camden County, Iron County

For the broader travel overview: Missouri.