Springfield, Missouri

Springfield, Missouri, Route 66 Visitor Center, at 815 E. St. Louis Street
Route 66 Visitor Center in Springfield

"66" Hubcap Sculpture in Springfield, Missouri

Museum on the Square in Springfield 

With one of the largest Route 66 timelines and maps in the country, this gallery is a must-see for any Americana enthusiast.

Hop into the turquoise blue '57 Chevy Bel Air convertible at the John T. Woodruff Theater and learn about the Springfieldian who helped give Route 66 its name.

The History Museum on the Square is located at 154 Park Central Square on Historic U.S. Route 66 in the heart of downtown Springfield, Missouri.

Exhibit at the History Museum on the Square in Springfield

Gay Parita Sinclair Filling Station

The original structure on this site was built in 1930 by Fred and Gay Mason. Fred named the station "Gay Parita" after his wife Gay.

The station burned in 1955, and never reopened. It was later lovingly recreated by Gary and Lena Turner in 2005. Gary passed away in 2015, and the site is commonly known today as "Gary's Gay Parita". Barbara Barnes, Gary's daughter, and George Bowick continue to operate the station today.

It is located between Halltown and Spencer, Missouri, about 25 miles west of Springfield, and 3 miles west of Halltown. Route 66 roadtrippers always make a stop at this station, at 21118 Old Highway 66, Ash Grove, Missouri (see map below). Highly recommended!

For more information, visit Gary's Gay Parita website and Gay Parita on Facebook or phone 843.324.6661

Spencer, Missouri Phillips 66 Service Station

The General Store was the first building built on this site in 1926. The garage was completed in 1927 and the café / barbershop in 1928. It is located only 1.6 miles west of Gay Parita on all original Route 66 concrete.

In June of 2022, Ed Klein of Route 66 World purchased the property and buildings to further continue the restoration and preservation of the buildings and property.  His plans are to open it up to the public on a limited basis as his schedule allows.

Spencer Station Website and Spencer Station on Facebook

Avilla, Missouri

Avilla is a rural village in Jasper County in western Missouri, between Spencer and Carthage. It is the fourth-oldest settlement in Jasper County, founded in 1856. When driving Route 66 through Avilla, be sure to check out the circa 1915 Post Office and Route 66 murals!

Another mural in Avilla ... 66 Farm & Auto Hardware Store

Lottie's Soda Shoppe & General Store in Avilla

Carthage, Missouri

One of the first concrete-paved portions of Missouri’s highway system was the stretch of road west of Carthage to Joplin, laid in 1920. In 1926, this route became part of Route 66.

Along the route today travelers find Kellogg Lake, Powers Museum, Carthage Municipal Park, Stone’s Throw Dinner Theatre, 66 Drive-In and the 1939 Boots Court (photo below).

Read about other attractions and things to do at the Visit Carthage Website

Red Oak II, northeast of Carthage

Route 66 Mural Park - Joplin, Missouri

Shown here is the mural in downtown Joplin, Missouri at Pearl Brothers Hardware Store. This is only one of many murals painted throughout the downtown area. 

The Route 66 Mural Park in Joplin features two nostalgic murals and an oversized 45-record imprint of "Get Your Kicks on Route 66". The upper mural is called "Cruisin’ into Joplin", and showing a vintage Buick arriving in Joplin on Route 66 from the west.

The lower mural is called "The American Ribbon", tracing the route of the Mother Road from Chicago to Los Angeles. Jutting out in three dimensions from the mural is a mock 1964 red Chevrolet Corvette. This is a favorite stop for Rouge 66 travelers in Missouri for photo-ops! The mural is located at 619 S. Main Street in Joplin.

Read about other attractions and things to do at the Visit Joplin Website

Leaving Missouri, and Entering Kansas

We have included below a sampling of our collection of vintage travel postcards dealing with Missouri and Route 66.

What was Route 66 like in its earlier years, as visitors drove around and across Missouri? What did all the service stations, motels and public buildings look like when they were new?

What did the traveling public experience on the Mother Road? We wonder such things when we travel Route 66 today.

Those earlier times in the 1930s, 40s and 50s were not always captured on film. But the use of colorful postcards was common in those decades.

These portray the historic road in its prime and help us to visualize, and appreciate, "earlier times" as we drive Route 66 today across Missouri.

Continuing West
on the Next Route 66 Segment?

Across Kansas