Route 66 Park
- Route 66 site
- In Joplin, Missouri
- On Route 66
Route 66 Park, also called Route 66 Mural Park, is a public park on Main Street in Joplin, MO, right on the old road. Opened in 2013, it was created as a gathering point for Route 66 travellers and local fans of the highway. Its big draw is a set of three large tile murals, plus a red sports car sliced in half that you can pose beside for photos.
What is Route 66 Park?
The murals cover the south wall of the old Pearl Brothers hardware store, a green building that has since closed. The three large panels are made of tile rather than paint.
In front of them sits the park's playful touch: half of a red sports car, cut down the middle so visitors can stand right beside it as if they were climbing in. Together, the murals and the car turn a plain downtown wall into a stop built for travellers.
History of Route 66 Park
The park was made to serve both passing tourists and the local people who work to preserve the road. Paul Whitehill proposed the murals, and Images In Tile USA produced them. Three artists shared the design: Chris Auckerman, Andy Thomas, who grew up in nearby Carthage, and Jon White.
The location has meaning. Close to where 7th Street meets Main, the old highway once turned west and headed toward Kansas, so the park sits near the spot where the road bent toward the Kansas line.
Visiting Route 66 Park: tips
The park sits right on the route and is listed as wheelchair accessible. A stop of 15 to 20 minutes is enough for photos; softer morning or late-day light makes the tile colors easier to capture. Food is available within a block.
Several historic buildings are steps away. The Newman Brothers Building and the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad Building are each about 0.1 mile off, and the Joplin Downtown Historic District starts nearby, so the park makes a good starting point for a walk through downtown Joplin.
Practical info
- Address
- 629-621 S Main St, Joplin, MO 64801
- Hours
- Open 24 h
- On site & nearby
Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · official site — may be outdated. Suggest a fix
On the map
Full mapRoute 66 Park with the 6 closest stops. Tap a marker for details.
Tap a dot to see that stop here.
Stops near Route 66 Park
All of Missouri
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Questions about Route 66 Park
Who created the murals at Route 66 Park?
Paul Whitehill proposed them, Images In Tile USA produced them, and artists Chris Auckerman, Andy Thomas and Jon White designed them.
Is Route 66 Park on Route 66?
Yes. It is on Main Street in Joplin, near the spot where the old highway turned west toward Kansas.
Own or run Route 66 Park? Send us a photo or a correction.