Discover Joplin: Route 66, Art and Nature

Joplin offers a range of ways to plan a stay: Route 66 history, local museums, art and nature along Shoal Creek. If you’re looking for a hotel in Joplin, your trip’s main focus can help shape your plans. Route 66, exhibitions and historic homes each add a distinct touch; along Shoal Creek, trails, nature programs and wildlife watching take center stage.

Route 66 and Joplin’s history

The Route 66 Mural Park honors the historic highway with three large tile mosaics. The map mosaic shows how Route 66 connects Joplin with the Great Lakes and the Pacific Ocean. Beside the mosaic, a red replica of a 1963 Corvette makes a photo spot. To see more public murals, follow the Downtown Joplin Mural Tour, which leads to eight mural locations.

The regional perspective is also part of Route 66 history. The Route 66 Tri-state Corridor includes Joplin and other former mining routes in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma. This offers a way to explore the city’s connection to the historic route alongside the region’s broader mining history.

Museums, architecture and art

The Joplin History & Mineral Museum is a complex of several small museums. Exhibitions at the Dorothea B. Hoover Historical Museum, part of the complex, cover Route 66 and the adventures of Bonnie and Clyde in Joplin. Another part is the Everett J. Ritchie Tri-State Mineral Museum. Its entrance is designed to resemble a mine shaft; inside, Smithsonian-quality mineral specimens are on display, illustrating the mining culture of the Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri area.

Historic homes can be seen in the Murphysburg Historic District. They include Charles Schifferdecker’s compact German “castle” and Albert Winchester’s bright Queen Anne-style home. The two houses showcase different architectural features within the historic district.

At the Spiva Center For The Arts, exhibitions of work by local, regional, national and international artists change throughout the year. The center also hosts PhotoSpiva. The photography competition is considered the oldest continuously running competition of its kind west of the Mississippi; artists from across the country take part. The center also offers art classes in a range of media. The program therefore includes both changing exhibitions and opportunities to explore different artistic media.

Nature along Shoal Creek

At the Shoal Creek Conservation Education Center, visitors can hike trails, take part in nature programs and watch wildlife along Shoal Creek. The biologically diverse stream provides habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife. The center is next to some of the world’s last remaining Chert Glades—a distinctive habitat found only in this area. Trails, programs and wildlife watching offer different ways to experience nature; the Chert Glades add a special perspective on the local landscape.

Empire Market and Schifferdecker Aquatic Center

Empire Market is a public, food-focused market with 30 to 35 weekly vendors. They sell goods they have grown or made themselves. Offerings include fruit and vegetables, meat, cheese, wine and beer, as well as handicrafts and freshly prepared gourmet dishes. The market is open year-round every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Since schedules can change, check the hours before your visit.

Schifferdecker Aquatic Center has two water areas: a 50-meter pool and a 26-meter pool with diving boards. It also features a lazy river, a climbing wall and water slides. Seasonal operation may apply, so check opening hours before making plans. The market and aquatic center have different timing considerations for your stay: the market’s Saturday schedule is key, while the season may affect the aquatic center.

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