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Joplin, MO

From Webb City take Madison south, it becomes Rangeline, go to Zora, turn west on Zora, then south on Florida to right on Utica. Angle left onto Euclid to the stop sign, left on St. Louis Ave., right on Broadway (Langston Hughes) (in Joplin). Left onto Main Street (MO 43) to 7th Ave. Turn right on 7th and proceed west out of Joplin.
Royal Heights Apartments & Theater
2201-05 N. Florida Ave.
This building was originally home to the Royal Heights Apartments and Royal Heights (Movie) Theater ... read more
Jackson Food Market
2332 Utica Ave.
In the 1950's-60s this was Jackson's Food Market and also Royal Heights Grocery Store ... read more

xDales Barber Shop
2312 Utica (at intersection with Euclid)
This was the 1920s Shamrock Inn Tourist Camp & Cafe. After Route 66 arrived cabins were added and in ... read more
1920s Burke Key Auto Repair
1111 Broadway St. (Langston Hughes)
In 1920 this was Burke Key Auto Repair, in 1929 James Parker Auto Repair and in ... read more
x Former garage
1019 E Broadway St
According to a neighbor, this was once a barber shop ... read more
East Town Mural
621 Broadway St. (Langston Huges)
The "Belonging to all the hands who build" mural is on the historic Earl Smith Grocery building. The title comes from a ... read more
F.M. Weeks Building
607 E Broadway St.
This looks like this building housed F.M. Weeks business and possible they lived upstairs. It is located on E Broadway at ... read more
Twin Towers Barber Shop
602 E. Broadway, Joplin, MO
I'm guessing this 1925 building started out as a gas station. The canopy was still open in 1936. In 2013 it was ... read more


Side Trip:
At Broadway & Main St. Turn north on Main St. (the 1930s - 1955 bypass alignment).

xJoplin Union Depot
East of Main St. between "A" & "B" Streets.
The Joplin Union Depot was completed in 1911. The last train left November 1969 ... read more
xWelcome to Joplin Mural
Mural in progress on Main St. N & "B" St.,
The first panel welcomes visitors to "Downtown JOMO" The others show George Spiva ... read more
Former Cities Service Station
304 W Main St.
This building was a Texaco and later a City Service Station located on W Main St.& "B" St. ... read more

xWestport Lodge
W Fountain Rd & Main Street N.
This 1940's tourist court consists of several cabins and 1 larger office. Reopened in 2017 as the Enlight Inn, a ... read more
xCottage Style Station & Garage
W. Fountain Rd & Main St. N
This Cottage Style Station and garage are located on the 1950s alignment of Route 66 ... read more


Back on 66 (1926 - 1955):
At the cottage style station and Westport Lodge on Fountain & Main turn around and head back south.

xJoplin Rt. 66 Mural Park
617 Main St., Joplin, MO 64801
Located on the Pearl Brothers Hardware building, near where two alignments of Route 66 meet, Main Street and 7th Street ... read more


Side Trip:
Turn left on 7th Ave. to see the Plaza Motel. This is the 1956 - 1972 alignment, but the Plaza is about all that's left to see.

Plaza Motel
2612 E. 7th Street
The Plaza Motel was built in 1962 and is located at the intersection of 7th St. (latest 66 alignment) and Florida Ave. ... read more


Back On 66 (1926 Alignment)
: Turn around and head west on 7th Ave. At Main St. you're back on the original alignment, continue going west.

xFormer Mr Swiss Drive In
635 - 7th Ave. W.
A former Mr Swiss is located at 7th Street & Sergeant Ave. Hugh Hills opened this drive-in in April 1967 and ... read more
Woody's Wood Fire Pizza
1831 W. 7th St. (W. 7th St & Adele Ave). You'll reconize it by the buge bottle of Coca-Cola out front. In 1948 this was a Dairy Delite soft serve icream shop ... read more
xWill Rogers Highway Marker
W. 7th and Schifferdecker Ave.
Located in Schifferdecker Park, enter from Schifferdecker Ave. and then take the first left into the park, then take ... read more
Tri State Drive-In Theater (Gone)
300 S. Tri State Rd, Joplin, MO
The Tri-States Drive-In opened in 1948 and operated by Commonwealth Amusement until at least 1955. It closed in ... read more

xCarousel Park - Permanently Closed
3834 W. 7th St.
The former park is located on W. 7th just west of Tri State Rd. This was truly a family entertainment center ... read more

East < GO > West

xStay tuned, there's more to come!  

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x About Us We started traveling Historic U.S. Route 66 as a destination in 2009. It's like a 2,400 mile long drive back in time from Chicago to Santa Monica! more
xDid You Know: Many parts of the old 4 lane Route 66 were reverted to a 2 lane road after 66 was realigned to the interstate. In many places the abandoned lanes are still there.