Crossroads of America Centennial Celebration

Celebrate two historical highways that converge in Joplin - the Jefferson Highway and Route 66.

Hosted by the Jefferson Highway Association and in partnership with the Route 66 Association of Missouri, the event takes a step back in time to feature the history of both routes with all-day activities as listed below:

10:00 am:
o Caravans /Motor Tours Arrival and Welcoming: Four separate Jefferson Highway caravans will arrive from Galena, KS, Springfield, MO, Bentonville, AR, and Harrisonville, MO. The public is invited to welcome the participants as they arrive at Schifferdecker Park.

o Camp Area #1 - 1920’s Vintage tourist camp featuring presenter Daniel Hershberger from Michigan: cars and camping equipment from 1910’s to 1930’s.

o Camp Area #2 - Vintage trailers camp site: selection of vintage trailers from the 1930s up to the 1960s, with cars/trucks from the period.

o Joplin History and Mineral Museum open without charge: Museum will have Route 66 Centennial and Jefferson Highway exhibits.

o Special Route 66 Centennial traveling exhibit in the Museum: exhibit features nearly two dozen large-scale interpretive panels, audiovisual mini-documentaries, and educational components highlighting the diverse stories of Missourians connected by Route 66.

o Presentations – Museum Conference Room (times subject to change)

§ 11:30 AM – “Joplin as the Crossroads of America” - Roger Bell, Muskogee, OK, President Jefferson Highway Association: presentation on Joplin’s important role in the development of both highways and its heritage as the Crossroads of America.

§ 1 PM - “At the Crossroads: Celebrating the Centennial of America’s Great Roads in Song": Crystal, Minnesota – music historian and performer Cece Otto, from Crystal, MN, will perform and present the history of highway travel songs, patriotic songs, and popular songs of 1926. Cece’s bio - https://americansongline.com/p...

§ 2 PM – 2026 Route 66 & Jefferson Highway International Trivia Championship hosted by Anthony Arno from the Route 66 Podcast: attendees will be broken up into teams of four to five and will participate in a Jeopardy-style trivia contest, including Route 66 and Jefferson Highway trivia. No expertise is needed. The event will end with a medal ceremony for the winning team.