You won’t find jungle gyms or shady trees at this roadside park, but you will find a striking tribute to Route 66 and Joplin’s role in its storied past. Located on the south side of the Pearl Brothers Hardware building (now a True Value) at the corner of 7th and Main Streets, Route 66 Mural Park in Joplin, Missouri, is one of the city’s most photo-worthy spots and a must-stop for road trippers traveling the Mother Road.
The attraction first opened in 2013 with the installation of two colorful tiled murals that celebrate the legacy of Route 66 and its connection to Joplin. Both murals were proposed by Paul Whitehill, designed by artists Chris Auckerman and Jon White, and fabricated by Images In Tile USA. Together, they transformed a downtown wall into an artistic homage to America’s favorite highway. In 2025, the park grew even more vibrant with the addition of a third mural, expanding the tribute to include Route 66 landmarks across the Tri-State area of Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma.
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Murals at Route 66 Mural Park
Cruisin’ into Joplin
The first of the two original tile murals, Cruisin’ into Joplin captures the spirit of travel along Route 66. It features a classic car cruising east from a cactus-studded desert landscape, past a “Welcome to Joplin” sign, and toward the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. This mural celebrates Joplin’s place on the Mother Road.
The American Ribbon
Beneath the top mural, The American Ribbon stretches across the wall as a detailed map of Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica. Shield markers highlight key stops along the way, and a life-size, red 1963 Chevrolet Corvette juts out from the wall, adding a 3D element that’s perfect for photos. This interactive piece brings the road to life right in the heart of downtown Joplin.
Route 66 Tri-State Corridor
The newest addition, unveiled in 2025, is Route 66 Tri-State Corridor, a vibrant painted mural by renowned Carthage, Missouri, artist Andy Thomas. It showcases 25 historic and cultural landmarks across Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma, tying together the Tri-State area’s deep ties to the road.
The artwork showcases:
- Jasper County Courthouse
- Boots Motel
- 66 Drive-In Theatre
- Bonnie and Clyde
- Grand Falls
- Supertam on 66
- Praying Hands
- Mining Park
- Dale’s Ole 66 Barber Shop
- Fox Theater
- Newman’s Building/City Hall, Joplin Visitor’s Center
- Route 66 Mural Park
- MO/KS Yellow Bricks
- Front Street Viaduct
- Kan-O-Tex Service Station/Cars on the Route and Texaco Station/Gearhead Curios
- Old Riverton Store
- Marsh (Rainbow) Bridge
- Independent Oil and Gas Service Station/Baxter Springs Visitors Center
- Commerce Mickey Mantle Tributes
- Dairy King
- Waylan’s Hamburgers the Ku-Ku
- Coleman Theater
- Marathon Oil Service Station
- Tribute to the Native Nations
- The Grapes of Wrath
Together, these murals tell a colorful and compelling story of the Tri-State region’s ties to Route 66.
Photos of Route 66 Mural Park in Joplin, Missouri
