GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVERMONUMENT

There is a gentle uplift from the prairies of Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri into the Ozarks. For over 100 years this Uplift Region provided lead, zinc and coal for the world. Now this

Region provides an Uplift for families looking for fun, history, heritage and hospitality.

Respect for mining heritage is evident in outdoor art and mining museums (see page 10 for mining museums).

The mining stopped in the mid seventies but its legacy evolved into great tourism finds. Where the ore was hoisted out of the ground, you now find unique habitats such as the Wildcat Glades Conservation & Audobun Center. Imagine a place where you can hike a savannah woodland, chert glade trails or along an Ozark stream. Step inside the Audubon Center with an amazing 1,300 gallon indoor aquarium. (www.wildcatglades.audubon.org)

Joplin, Missouri, (JOMO) is the largest city in the Tri-State area...outstanding art and murals (see page 5) and outdoor art adorn this historic mining town. Tucked into downtown Joplin is the George A. Spiva Center for the Arts. This Center for the Arts features the work of nationally and internationally acclaimed artists.

Explore the world of George Washington Carver, a

renowned scientist, educator and humanitarian.

The park preserves history in a hands-on discovery center which is

open daily from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm in Diamond, Missouri. Admission is free.

Enjoy a living laboratory highlighting the best of the Ozarks outdoors. There are indoor exhibits and almost four miles of outdoor trails.

Open: Tuesday – Saturday from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Sunday from 1:00 pm - 5 pm (March – October)Admission is free.

Discover a vast display of lead, zinc and other minerals exhibited in a cave like setting in the mineral wing of the museum. In addition, visit the history of Joplin’s personalities including Jamie McMurray, Mickey Mantle, Dennis Weaver, Bob Cummings and of course, Bonnie and Clyde.

The Mining Museum is Open: Tuesday 10:00 am - 7:00 pm. Wednesday – Saturday from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm.

Joplin Museum Complex: Admission is $2.00 or $5.00 per family.

Delight in the art at the George A. Spiva Center for the Arts. The galleries feature works of locally, nationally and internationally known artists.

Open Tuesday - Saturday from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm and on Sunday 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm. Admission for most exhibits is by voluntary contribution.

JOPLIN MUSEUM COMPLEX

GEORGE A. SPIVA CENTER FOR THE ARTS

WILDCAT GLADES CONSERVATIONAND AUDUBON CENTER

2 3

The Carver House was constructed in 1881 and is also the birthsite of George Washington Carver. This historic structure is a stop on the Carver trail.

Crowder College in Neosho, Missouri has an enrollment of over 5800 students with an active arts community including four murals. (www.crowder.edu)

The Walking Tour of the Murals of Neosho, Missouri Brochure. You can find these brochures at the Neosho Chamber of Commerce and hear audio descriptions of each mural atwww.newtoncountymotourism.org.

The George Washington Carver National Monument near Diamond, Missouri, features a fun, hands-on discovery center

honoring Dr. Carver as a scientist, educator and humanitarian.(www.nps.gov/gwca/index.htm) A great side trip is to Newtonia, Missouri, which was the site of two Civil War battles. The first battle was historically significant because it is the only battle outside Indian Territory where Native Americans fought against each other for the Union and Confederate forces. (www.newtoncountymotourism.org)

Continue your study of Civil War history with a trip to the Carthage Civil War Museum. (www.visit-carthage.com/attraction/civil-war-museum/)

Stella, Missouri, has two murals depicting the town’s history, a Veteran’s Memorial and it is the best perch for eagle watching in the Ozarks during the winter months.

Southeast Kansas is known for being an area developed with the help of European immigrants during the coal mining era. Sites like Immigrant Park and events such as

Little Balkan Days in Pittsburg and Fiesta Italiana in Frontenac celebrate the proud individuals who came to America for a better life.

Crawford County and Cherokee County host four major mining museums. (see page 11). There is also Big Brutus, a nickname of the Bucyrus-Erie model electric shovel. This was the second largest of its type in operation in the 1960s and 1970s. To learn more go to: www.bigbrutus.org.

Pittsburg is the largest town in Southeast Kansas and has been revitalized, offering a thriving downtown.

The town of Galena is the oldest mining town in Southeast Kansas and has a great mixture of historic buildings and new business developments. Galena also has great Route 66 attractions including a restored Kan-O-Tex gas station and the Tow-Tater. The Tow-Tater was the inspiration of the Tow-Mater from the Pixar-Disney movie “Cars” (pictured left).

Baxter Springs was known as America’s first “Cow Town” for its association with cattle drives. Both Galena and Baxter Springs are on Route 66.

At the Baxter Springs Museum Heritage Center and Museum, a rich history is brought to life including expansive mining displays. You will also learn of the days of the Osage Indians, see early photographs of Mickey Mantle, learn of Civil War History and see a 1910 farm house.

Grand Lake o’ the Cherokees is called by thousands, the Crown Jewel of Oklahoma. The lake was formed with the completion of Pensacola Dam in 1940. Today, Grand

Lake is a tourism destination known for its boating and fishing fun!

Northeast Oklahoma is also known for the town of Miami (pronounced My-am-uh). One of the town’s treasures is the Coleman Theatre where legends like Will Rogers performed.

This region was a lead and zinc mining area for years. The towns of Commerce and Picher were wide open mining towns. Picher is now abandoned.

Today, Northeast Oklahoma is also known for its tribal casinos. See page 14 for a listing of the different casinos.

4 5

Murals of Newton CountyNewton County has magnificent murals demonstrating the charm of this rural county. You can see most of the murals of Newton County, along with descriptive audio, at www.newtoncountymotourism.org. Pictured below are four examples from four highly-recognized artists.

A History of Newton CountyThe Newton County Courthouse is adorned by an 8’8’’ x 7’5” mural by artist Billie Gofourth-Stewart. This one panel of the vast

mural shows Thomas Hart Benton (born in Neosho) and his friend President Harry Truman. Gofourth-Stewart has another mural in Monark Springs just east of Neosho.

Native Americans at First Battle of NewtoniaThis Doug Hall masterpiece hangs in the Ritchey Mansion in

Newtonia, Missouri. This was a unique battle because it was the only time in the Civil War that Native Americans took up arms

against each other outside Indian Territory. Indigo Sky Casino in West Seneca, Oklahoma, also has several Doug Hall paintings.

George Washington Carver: The Spirit of GivingArtist Cedar J. Kindy demonstrates the life of George Washington Carver in three panels. Carver was a young boy from Diamond who grew to be a nationally-known scientist and educator. The mural is housed at the George Washington Carver National Monument near

Diamond, Missouri.

Tipton FordAnthony Benton Gude (grandson of Thomas Hart Benton) caught the human tragedy and healing after a motor car and train collided in 1914. The mural is housed in the United Methodist Church in

downtown Neosho, Missouri. Gude has a second mural in Neosho City Hall titled “Flower Box City.”

Murals of Jasper County

6 7

This mural depicts performing arts venues and patron experiences from the history of Joplin to the present. From left to right, the mural triptych begins outside the Club Theater, a significant performing arts venue which was built in the 1890s and located on the southwest corner of 4th Street and Joplin Avenue. A reflection of the Gay Nineties, the Club Theater offered big name talent from more cultivated

eastern urban centers. Live entertainment was a major entertainment outlet before motion pictures and outstanding performers, musicians, and politicians came to Joplin to perform at the Club Theater. In addition, Joplin’s proud mining heritage is highlighted by trompe l’oell

elements surrounding the depiction.

In collaboration with the Downtown Joplin Alliance, Missouri Southern State University art majors have been working on completing a mural that will greet visitors as the enter Downtown Joplin from the north side of town. The mural features Mr. George A. Spiva who has had a profound impact on the arts in Joplin. It also features images of the Sunshine Lamp Trolley and Main Street.

Located in a Joplin public park, specifically as a touchstone for US Route 66 tourists as well as for local preservers of U.S. Route 66 in Missouri. The park also features a bifurcated red sports car that anyone on pilgrimage can slide up beside and have a quickie

photograph taken. The mural covers the south side of Pearl Brothers, the iconic green hardware store in downtown Joplin.

“Celebrating the Performing Arts”

Route 66 Mural Park, upper mural - “Crusin Into Joplin” Route 66 Mural Park, lower mural - “Joplin: Along the American Ribbon”

“Downtown Gateway Mural”

SARC

OXIE

SAGI

NAW

QUAP

AW

IND

EX

49

44

JASP

ER

GALE

NA

Har

ry S

. T

rum

an

Bir

thpl

ace

Stat

e H

isto

ric

Site

Pre

ciou

s M

omen

ts

New

toni

a B

attl

efie

ld

Indi

go S

ky

Cas

ino

FAIR

LAND

RITC

HEY

60

60

44

102

SCAM

MON

M-1

Min

ers

Hal

l Mus

eum

M-2

Cra

wfo

rd C

ount

y H

isto

rica

l Mus

eum

M-3

Gal

ena

Min

ing

& H

isto

rica

l Mus

eum

M-4

Bax

ter

Spri

ngs

Her

itag

e C

ente

r &

Mus

eum

M-5

Dob

son

Mem

oria

l Mus

eum

M-6

Jopl

in M

useu

m C

ompl

ex

M-7

Gra

nby

Min

ing

Mus

eum

Tow

ns160

160

MIAM

IPICH

ER

RIVE

RTONFR

ANKL

IN

160

59

59

59 59

DIAM

OND

CARL

JUNC

TION

171

171

400

10

1043

43

43

49

160

69

47

ORON

OGO

102

697

77PI

TTSB

URG

4912

612

612

612

6

60

166

400

BAXT

ER S

PRIN

GS

59

49

LAMA

R

5960

12512

5125

10

43

CART

HAGE

49

COMM

ERCE

SENE

CCA

86

8686

JOPL

IN

76

76

STAR

K CI

TY

Att

ract

ions

Eag

le

Wat

chin

g

STEL

LA

NEW

TONI

A

Geo

rge

Was

hing

ton

Car

ver

Nat

iona

l Mon

umen

t

GRAN

BYM

-7

Jopl

inW

elco

me

Cen

ter

Big

Bru

tus

M-1

160

M-4

M-3

M-5

Mus

eum

sM

Lak

e O

’ The

Che

roke

es

Pow

ers

Mus

eum

Car

thag

e C

ivil

War

Mus

eum

Imm

igra

nt’s

Par

k

Min

er’s

M

emor

ial

GROV

E

DUE

NWEG

44

Wild

cat

Gla

des

Aud

ubon

Cen

ter 49 NE

OSHO

175

M-6

M-2

CART

ERVI

LLE

Har

-Ber

Vill

age

Vete

ran’

s M

emor

ial

Neo

sho

Fis

h H

atch

ery

FRON

TENA

C

JOPL

IN17

543

71

POST

194

7BY

PASS

PRE

1947

BYPA

SS FOU

NTA

IN R

D

MT.

HO

PE R

D

ZORA

ST.

ST. LOUIS

CA R

DIN

AL

DR.

ZORA

ST.

INDUSTRIAL RD. 17TH

ST. LOUIS

RANGELINE RD.

NEW

MA

N R

D.

BRO

AD

WAY

MURPHY B

LVD.

LONE ELM

DO

G W

OO

D

LONE ELM

DUQUESNEHALL ST.

COLONAL

OLDMAIN ST.

ECLI

PSE 43

WEB

B CI

TY

Joplin, Missouri

43

43

44

49

Jopli

n Rd.

Fir Rd.

Blac

k Cat

Rd.

Fountain Rd.

Peace Church

Ave.

Lone

Elm

Rd.

Tuckahoe

LoneElm

AirportDrive

Zora St. Prair

ie Flo

wer R

d.

MacArthor Dr.

Mad

ison

St.

CardinalDr. Ha

ll St

.

Prosperity

Pros

perit

y Rd.

171

171

Chitwood Murphy Blvd.

Broadway

St. L

ouis

Ave.

Jopli

n Av

e.

4th St.

Junge Blvd.

26th St.

32nd St.

Maid

en Ln

.

20th St.15th St.

Main

St.

IronGates

Schi�

erde

cker

Ave.

McClell

and

Blvd. Shoal

CreekDrive

DennisAcres

Midway Sunnyvale

Wiso

nsin

Ave.

Conn

ectic

ut A

v.

Murphy Blvd.

Rang

e Line

Rd.

7th St.

Florid

a Ave

.Euclid

Leawood Silver Creek

44th St.

20th St.

Duqu

esne

Rd.

Duquesne

Newman Rd.

JASPER CO.

NEWTON CO.

BL49

JoplinReg.

Airport

Wildcat GladesAudubon Center

P

13th St.

FF

Webb CityBroadway St.

MainSt.

HH

AA

43

Neosho FishHatchery

Neosho, Missouri

49

49

60

60

86

W. Harmony St.

Reid Rd.

W. Hill St. Hill St.

Walnut Dr.

S. Ri

pley S

t.

S. Ne

osho

Blvd

.

S. Ne

osho

Blvd

.

W. South St. E. South St.

Oak R

idge D

r.

S. Hi

gh St

.N.

High

St.

Pinev

ille Rd

.

E. Daugherty Rd.

Delaware St. Freem

an Rd

.

W. North St.

W. Coler St.

W. McCord St.Morse Park Rd.

E. Hic kory St.

S. La

fayett

e St.

S. W

ood S

t.

S. Je

�er s

on St

.

N. Co

llege

St.

S. Co

lle g

e St.

Cash

St.

Big Spring Park

N. M

ain St

.

22nd Ave.

Miami, Oklahoma

22nd Ave.

69

N. M

ain St

.

N. El

m St

.S.

Elm St

.N.

Elm

St.

12th Ave.

18th Ave.

19th Ave.

P St.

NW.

H St

. NW.

Goodrich Blvd.

W. Bj Tunnel Blvd. E. Bj Tunnel Blvd.

Miami Blvd.

E St. NW

8th Ave.7th Ave.6th Ave.

I St.

NW.

H St

. NW.

4th Ave. 4th Ave.

3rd Ave. 3rd Ave.2nd Ave. 2nd Ave.1st Ave. 1st Ave.

W Central Ave. E Central Ave.

1st Ave. SW. 1st Ave. SW.

G St

. NE.

G St

. NE.

I St. NE.

Bay S

t.

Brookside Dr.

B St.

NW.

D St

. NW.

E St.

NE.

D St

. NE.

10

10

S. M

ain St

.

Dobson Memorial Museum

M-5

M-5

Front

age R

d.

Pittsburg, Kansas

W. 20th St. E . 20th St. E . 20th St.

E . 22nd St.

E . 17th St.

E . 15th St.E . 13th St.E . 11th St.

N. Ro

use S

t.S.

Rous

e St.

E . 4th St.W. 4th St.

N. W

alnut

St.

S. W

alnut

St.

N. Br

oadw

ay S

t.S.

Broa

dway

St.

N. Br

oadw

ay S

t.

E . Washington St.

E. Je�erson St.

E. Quincy St.E. Quincy St.W. Quincy St.

E. Ford St.

S. Jo

plin

St.

N. Jo

plin

St.

S. Ho

mer

St.

Memorial Dr.

W. 12th St.

W. 9th St.

W. 6th St. E. 6th St.

E. 8th St.E. 9th St. E. 9th St.

E. 8th St.E. 6th St.

N. Ta

ylor S

t.

N. Tu

cker

St.

N. Ro

use S

t.

S. O

live

St.

N. O

live

St.

E . 2nd St.E . 1st St.

W . 2nd St. W . 2nd St.

S. Co

llege

St.

S. Ca

talpa

St.

160

160

69

69

126126

Crawford CountyHistorical Museum

M-7M-7S.

Jopli

n St

.

W . 1st St. W . 1st St.W . Euclid St.

S. Ch

estn

ut S

t.

S. Ge

orgia

St.

N. G

eorg

ia St

.

MINING MUSEUMSM-1

M-2

M-3

M-4

M-5

M-6

M-7

The Miner’s Hall Museum features mining memorablia and rotating exhibits.Open: Monday – FridayHours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PMAdmission: FREEWebsite: www.minersmemorial.org

The museum has one the largest collections of historical artifacts and displays in the region.Open: Thursday – SundayHours: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PMAdmission: donations acceptedWebsite: www.crawfordmomuseum.com

A huge mining exhibit joins other exhibits on Osage Indians, Civil War and more.Open: Monday – SundayHours: Mon – Sat (10AM–4:30PM) Sun (1PM–4PM) Admission: FREEWebsite: www.baxterspringsmuseum.org

This Miami, OK museum preserves the mining and Native American history of Ottawa County.Open: Wednesday, Friday & SundayHours: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PMAdmission: FREEEmail: ochs@dobsonmuseum.com

This museum is housed in an old railroad depot and is home to mining artifacts and oil paintings by Carol Bliss Riley.Open: Monday – Sunday in SummerHours: 9:00- 11:00 AM & 1:00-3:30 PMAdmission: FREE

The Everett J. Ritchie Tri-State Mineral Museum boasts an exceptional collection of lead and zinc ores in addition to a vast mining trove of memorabilia.Open: Tuesday (10AM –7PM) Wed-Sat (10AM-5PM)Admission: $2.00 or $5.00 per familyWebsite: www.joplinmuseum.org

The museum documents and preserves the history of the first mining towns in Southwest Missouri. Exquisite outdoor murals.Open: Thursday and FridayHours: 1:00–4:00 PMAdmission: FREE

Miner’s HallMuseum

Crawford CountyHistorical Museum

Baxter SpringsHeritage Center & Museum

Dobson Museum

GalenaMining & Historical Museum

JoplinMuseum Complex

GranbyMiner’sMuseum

On Center Page Map

On Center Page Map

On Center Page Map

On Center Page Map

On Center Page Map

On Center Page Map

On Center Page Map

10 11

DUENWEGSAGINAW

GALENA

MIAMI

RIVERTON

BAXTER SPRINGS

CARTHAGE

WEBB CITY

COMMERCE

JOPLIN

Battle of Carthage

Precious Momemnts

Wildcat GladesAudubon Center

M-4

M-2

M-3

M-5

ROUTE 66 ATTRACTIONS

CARTERVILLE

12 13

Route 66 Visitors Center in Baxter Springs, Kansas.

Marsh Arch Rainbow Bridge is north of Baxter Springs on Route 66.

Galena welcomes drivers into Kansas on Route 66.

The majestic courthouse in downtown Carthage.

The Newman Building in downtown Joplin is home to City Hall and the “Joplin at the Turn of the Century” Mural by Thomas Hart Benton (pictured on front cover) and Anthony Benton Gude’s mural pictured above, right.

Route 66 - JoplinMissouri mural was painted by Anthony Benton Gude, the grandson of Thomas Hart Benton. Benton was born in Neosho and resided in Joplin.

Red Oak II has over 30 buildings re-created as a turn of the century village.

The Precious Moments Chapel features 84 hand painted murals and 30 works of stained glass.

The Route 66 Vintage Iron Motorcycle Museum is on Main Street in Miami.

The Joplin Welcome Center

hosts a mural by Matthew Dehaemers

which captures the history and

scenic beauty of the area.

Joplin’s Sunshine Lamp District hosts dozens of shops, restaurants and art galleries all within a few blocks in downtown.

Mickey Mantle grew up in Commerce, Oklahoma, and played baseball throughout the area.

Old Streetcar No. 60 is located in King Jack Park in Webb City.

Grand Falls is the largest continously flowing waterfall in Missouri.

The Praying Hands statue by artist Jack Dawson is in King

Jack Park.

Route 66 Mural Park features two dynamic murals on Main Street in Joplin.

The ceiling of the Precious Moments Chapel.

Documentaries on The Ozarks Uplift.... The Story of Mining in the Tri-State Area and The Civil War Battle of Newtonia were produced and aired on PBS Stations.

DVDs of the documentaries are available at most of the Mining Museums.

Or you can purchase them by calling (417) 437-5974. The DVDs are $15 each plus $3 postage.

The Coleman Theatre opened in 1928 in Miami, Oklahoma. It is on Route 66.

GALENA MINING AND HISTORICAL MUSEUM

NEOSHO NATIONAL FISH HATCHERY

MINERS MEMORIALCrawford County

Wander Crawford County for its history. Girard is the county seat and has a beautiful Carthage stone courthouse with glorious stained glass. Crawford County boasts two mining museums and a Miners Memorial that adjoins a tribute to its earliest citizens called Immigrant Park. Pittsburg is also home to Pittsburg State University.www.crawfordcountykansas.org

Stop on old Route 66 in Galena, Kansas. A treasured museum is housed in the former Galena train station of the M-K-T railroad. Large displays of minerals, historic photographs and mining equipment await you. Plus, marvel at the oil paintings by artist Carol Bliss-Riley, which were originally displayed in the Smithsonian Institute.

www.kansastravel.org/galenaminingmuseum.htm

Learn about the great lengths that the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service goes to preserve and replenish our National fish supply. Open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM, there are fun interactive exhibits for all ages. The Neosho National Fish Hatchery was established in 1888 and helps stock our lakes and streams with Rainbow Trout, Pallid Sturgeon, Ozark Cavefish and more. Admission is free.

www.fws.gov/midwest/neosho

CASINOS IN DELAWARE AND OTTAWA COUNTIESWyandotte Nation CasinoWyandotte, OK www.wyandottecasinos.com Grand Lake CasinoGrove, OKwww.grandlakecasino.com Lucky Turtle CasinoWyandotte, OKwww.wyandottecasinos.com Indigo Sky Casino (see advertisement below)Wyandotte, OKwww.indigoskycasino.com

Bordertown Casino & ArenaSeneca, OKwww.bordertowncasino.com Downstream Casino ResortQuapaw, OKwww.downstreamcasino.com Outpost CasinoWyandotte, OKwww.theoutpostcasino.com

MIAMI CASINOSThe Stables Casinowww.the-stables.com Buffalo Run Casinowww.buffalorun.com High Winds Casinowww.highwindscasino.com Prairie Moon Casinowww.miaminationcasinos.com Prairie Sun Casinowww.miaminationcasinos.com Quapaw Casinowww.quapawcasino.com

High Stake Bingo Still Played At Indigo Sky!Bordertown Casino & Arena Opens in April!

Neosho, Missouri, is the county seat of Newton County. Neosho is known for Big Spring Park (pictured on front cover) and as Flower Box City. Throughout Newton County you will find great murals in locations including Diamond, Granby, Joplin, Newtonia, Seneca and Stella. Plan on taking a walking tour of the Neosho Murals. The murals are also on www.newtoncountymotourism.org with audio descriptions.Neosho City Hall is home to a mural titled “Flower Box City” depicting the

history of the area. The mural was completed by Anythony Benton Gude, the grandson of Thomas Hart Benton who was born in Neosho.