Our Route 66 Adventures: Boots Court Motel and Visitor Center

Date of Visit: April 29, 2026

We stopped at the Boots Court Motel and more specifically their visitor center for the stamp in the Mother Road Passport.

The Boots Court Visitor Center is in a former service station next to the Boots Court Motel. It serves as the motel's front office (also did so when it was a service station) and uses the service bay area as a store with a variety of Boots Court Motel and general Route 66 themed merchandise.

Near the Visitor Center is a Route 66 Shield Statue.

The Boots Motor Court was also along the Jefferson Highway, which was a north-south route from Winnipeg, Canada, to New Orleans, LA. It pre-dates Route 66 and in this area of Missouri the two routes crossed.

The Boots Court is known for its Radio in Every Room advertising. They have modernized and now the radios in the rooms you can connect your smartphone to for playing music.

See full list of Our Route 66 Adventures here and Google map here.

Destination Info:

Boots Court Motel

107 S Garrison Ave

Carthage, MO 64836

Our Route 66 Adventures: Supertam on 66

Date of Visit: April 29, 2026

We had originally planned to visit Supertam on 66 on our way to Joplin, but it wasn't opened when we tried to go. On our way back to Springfield, Missouri, we found it was open.

Supertam on 66 is part ice cream shop and part Superman museum. The shop is filled with a wide variety of mostly Superman memorabilia.

There are a few other superheroes represented as well including Wonder Woman.

Of course, we had to have some ice cream. I had Apple Cider Donut. Dad had Oatmeal Cookie and Malt Amore.

See full list of Our Route 66 Adventures here and Google map here.

Destination Info:

Supertam on 66

221 W Main St

Carterville, MO 64835

Our Route 66 Adventures: Praying Hands Memorial

Date of Visit: April 29, 2026

The Praying Hand Memorial is located a little bit off of Route 66 in Webb City, Missouri. It was not on our original plan for the day, but it was recommended to us when we stopped in at the Webb City Route 66 Welcome Center.

At the start of the walkway is a mural about the Praying Hands Memorial.

Nearby there is The Kneeling Miner done by the same artist.

See full list of Our Route 66 Adventures here and Google map here.

Destination Info:

Praying Hands Memorial

Dawson Dr

Webb City, MO 64870

Our Route 66 Adventures: Route 66 Mural Park

Date of Visit: April 29, 2026

The Route 66 Mural Park in Joplin is a small concrete "park" with murals on the side of a building.

One of the murals features a 3D element with half a mock 1963 Corvette.

Route 66 Tri-state Corridor

See full list of Our Route 66 Adventures here and Google map here.

Destination Info:

Route 66 Mural Park

619 S Main St

Joplin, MO 64801

Our Route 66 Adventures: Murals at Joplin City Hall

Date of Visit: April 29, 2026

We visited the City Hall in Joplin for the Visit Joplin stamp in the Mother Road Passport. While we didn't end up figuring out where to get the stamp, we did enjoy the murals in the City Hall as well as the exhibit about the creation of the Joplin at the Turn of the Century, 1896-1906 mural.

Route 66: Joplin, Missouri mural

Joplin at the Turn of the Century, 1896-1906 mural

Stained Glass

"Evolution of a Mural" exhibit

See full list of Our Route 66 Adventures here and Google map here.

Destination Info:

Joplin City Hall

602 S. Main Street

Joplin, Missouri 64804

Our Route 66 Adventures: World Street Painting Gallery, Joplin, MO

Yeehaw 66

Date of Visit: April 29, 2026

The World Street Painting Gallery was an unplanned find near the Joplin History & Mineral Museum. These were originally done in June 2025 and it appears they will be doing more this June in honor of Route 66's 100th. Most of the art was Route 66 themed.

Take a ride with Boomer

Swing on Fanning’s rocking chair

Fly with Gallectic Galena

Downhill Jam

Crystal Cave

Ride the 66

Get Your Kicks on Route 66

Mother Road

Slot Car Racing

See full list of Our Route 66 Adventures here and Google map here.

Destination Info:

World Street Painting Gallery - Joplin 2025

504 S. Schifferdecker Ave

Joplin, MO 64801

Our Route 66 Adventures: Joplin History & Mineral Museum and National Cookie Cutter Historical Museum

Date of Visit: April 29, 2026

The Joplin History & Mineral Museum has been a Route 66 attraction since it opened in 1931. The main exhibits are about the tri-state mining industry and other local Joplin local history. There is also a Route 66 exhibit. Most unique is the National Cookie Cutter Historical Museum is housed inside the museum.

We started with the mineral part of the museum. It was interesting to see the different minerals and learn about the mining industry in the area. The fluorescent minerals display was a highlight of this area.

The Route 66 exhibit was of particular interest to us as we visited as part of driving Route 66. The exhibit featured displays for each of the states Route 66 goes through.

One of the interesting items in the local history section was this portable kitchen from the mid-1800s.

The local history also included local Civil War history, especially related to the Battle of Carthage.

The National Cookie Cutter Historical Museum Collection featured cookie cutters representing each of the 50 states as part of a celebrating the United States 250th.

There was also a Route 66 themed cookie cutter display.

See full list of Our Route 66 Adventures here and Google map here.

Destination Info:

Joplin History & Mineral Museum

504 S. Schifferdecker Ave

Joplin, MO 64801

Our Route 66 Adventures: Route 66 Welcome Center Webb City

Date of Visit: April 29, 2026

We stopped at the Route 66 Welcome Center in Webb City to get the stamp for the Mother Road Passport. The visitor center is located in an old gas station.

There is a Welcome to Webb City mural on the building behind the parking lot. We got a free magnet featuring this mural along with our stamp for the Mother Road Passport.

There is also a classic truck parked by their sign.

See full list of Our Route 66 Adventures here and Google map here.

Destination Info:

Route 66 Welcome Center

112 W Broadway St

Webb City, MO

Our Route 66 Adventures: Red Oak II

Date of Visit: April 29, 2026

Red Oak II is a little bit off of Route 66. The "town" is a collection of various old buildings brought here from other places including the original Red Oak and some newer buildings made to fit in with the old to make the town more complete, such as the train station. We probably spent about an hour wandering around the town. Many of buildings in the town are private residences or otherwise not open to go inside, but a few of the buildings you can go inside. 

Diner

Town Hall

Feed and Seed Store

Gas Station

Peacock

Metal Sculpture Park

General Store - from original Red Oak

Phillips 66

Salem Country Church

Garfield Wiley Cabin

Hornback Cabin - Jasper County's first courthouse

Horseshoes and Insulators Sculpture

Fort Hooker

See full list of Our Route 66 Adventures here and Google map here.

Destination Info:

Red Oak II

10917 County Loop 122

Carthage, MO 64836