The mural is located at the very center of Galena where Main Street crosses the famous Route 66,…read moreaka the Mother Road. The mural is two stories high and you can't miss it. Designed in 2013 by Chris Auckerman and Jon White of Images in Tile, it is made from more than 400 ceramic tiles and depicts a powder blue 1957 Chevrolet pulling onto Main Street, surrounded by iconic Galena landmarks. Look closely and you'll spot the old jail, the haunted bordello mansion, and Cars on the Route with the truck that inspired Tow Mater from Pixar's Cars. Across the top, the mural proudly reads "Greetings from Galena on Historic Route 66," and it includes a quote from Route 66 historian Michael Wallis: "Route 66. Just the name is magic. It will always mean going somewhere." His name is even spelled out in the skid marks left by the car. The mural sits in a small park alongside the Kansas Route 66 shield sign, making it a perfect photo stop that blends nostalgia, pop culture, and local pride. The park is surrounded by a low wrought iron fence. The gate was open when we stopped by. [Review 1508 of 2025 - 48 in Kansas - 25059 overall]

Recently installed sculpture of a Kansas Route 66 highway sign made of rust-colored car tire rims…read more Park at the public parking lot between the traffic circle and SE Beasley Rd. You can read the info plaques about local history then walk over the mowed grass to the sculpture. Pretty fun photo op that gets decorated for major holidays.

Standing in the parking lot of the gas station, the "Ampersand" is 8 feel tall and 7 feet wide. It…read moreis a reflection of the Kum & Go station's motto, "Where & Means More." On the front a number of words and images that highlight Joplin's history including its mining background, it's place on the historic Route 66 and the visit by outlaws Bonnie and Clyde. The "strength & hope" hands grasping reflect the recovery from the May 2011 tornado. On the back, words and phrases that make up the company's core values including love, balance, excellence and teamwork. It's a neat sculpture that shows what Joplin has been, is and is becoming. It was designed and created by the art studio Sticks. [Review 2320 of 2024 - 389 in Missouri - 23334 overall]

"The Miracle of the Human Spirit" in Joplin is a powerful tribute to the resilience and…read moredetermination of the community following the devastating EF-5 tornado that struck on May 22, 2011. Located in Cunningham Park, this tribute honors the volunteers who selflessly contributed to the rescue, recovery, and redevelopment efforts after the tornado. The tribute features four circles representing Rescue, Recovery, Demolition, and Rebirth, and a mosaic in the center symbolizing the "Butterfly Stories" told by children after the storm. The bronze hard hat, gloves, sledgehammer, and hammer represent the heroic efforts of rescuers and volunteers. It's a beautiful reminder of the strength and spirit of the people of Joplin. I was living in Bentonville in 2011 which is about 60 miles to the south. It was a tremendous tragedy. [Review 2324 of 2024 - 393 in Missouri - 23338 overall]

This striking artwork stands in front of the entrance to the Joplin Public Library and it reminded…read moreme of the last artwork I had seen, "The Reeds, in Red with Silver" near the Spiva Center for the Arts. And it turns out, this is the same artist. By Jorge Leyva, it blends natural and man-made forms to honor lives and identities lost while celebrating new growth and hope. The artwork has a commanding presence, standing about 12 feet tall and serving as both a memorial and a beacon. Joplin was struck by a powerful tornado in 2011. From his statement, the sculpture "is a piece celebrating resilience and hope in the midst of chaos and pain. Each house represents an identity lost, each branch a new growth, a new blade of grass, a new life rising from devastation. As nature and man-made objects come together, they grow in unison and become a renewed community." The phoenix metaphor is deliberate: Joplin rose from the debris like a bird reborn from ashes. Stop by the see it as you visit the library. [Review 1494 of 2025 - 475 in Missouri - 25045 overall] ********** It is worth noting that today makes for a 500 day streak where I have written at least one review every single day since July 21, 2024. **********

Not a lot going on here. RV park just 'steps away'. Neosho has several places to eat, and bowling,…read moreor maybe a movie. A 'quaint' little place. It will add a little content to your travel journal.

This is a interesting sight. It looks like an old train car converted into a flower bed…read more Depending in the time of year you go will dictate the beauty of this. We stayed in the RV camp grounds across from it. The camp grounds is called Hickory Creek RV Park and is owned by the city of Neosho. It cost $12.00 a night. There is water and Eletric hook ups but no sewer hook up. They do have a dump sight with water at the enteranc It is November and winter is sitting in. Will definitely return in the spring to look at it again.

The Big Dreams Grow in Carthage Mural fits neatly into the larger Downtown Mural Project that…read moreVision Carthage has been rolling out, a coordinated effort to add color, identity, and walkable interest throughout the historic district. This piece carries that upbeat civic tone the project leans on, but what makes it more grounded than just being a pretty mural is the way it highlights more than a dozen of the people who have shaped Carthage's history. You see nods to Annie Baxter, Missouri's first woman elected to public office, and artist Lowell Davis, whose folk-art legacy still echoes through the region. Their presence gives the mural a little more weight than a simple slogan, tying the city's optimism to real names and real history. As part of the broader initiative, it works exactly the way it's meant to. It's bright without being loud, encouraging without being saccharine, and it adds that small but meaningful spark of personality that makes downtown feel more intentional. It's a friendly reminder that Carthage's dreams aren't just abstract ideas. They're built on people who left their mark on a community that's still growing. [Review 858 of 2026 - 564 in Missouri - 26039 overall]

It is impossible to overlook this expressive sculpture, its vivid colors rising proudly at the…read moreHarry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex near downtown Joplin. The work combines bold red forms with gleaming silver accents, evoking the natural imagery of reeds while asserting itself as a contemporary landmark in public art. Jorge Leyva, a Peruvian-born sculptor who made Missouri his home, is celebrated for blending community symbolism with modern design, and this piece reflects his philosophy that art should be both accessible and inspiring. "The Reeds, in Red with Silver" was long a visual anchor at the Spiva Center for the Arts, where it stood until 2022 before undergoing careful restoration and relocation to the Cornell Complex, ensuring its continued role in Joplin's cultural landscape. Today, visitors will find ample parking nearby, and the sculpture is easy to spot whether attending a performance or simply exploring the grounds, with its polished surfaces catching the light and reinforcing Leyva's reputation as one of the region's most influential public artists. [Review 1488 of 2025 - 471 in Missouri - 25041 overall]