Joplin's Community
Our Partners
Joplin's story is bigger than any one website. These organizations are doing the work of preserving, celebrating, and sharing our city's history every single day. We are proud to connect you with all of them.
Joplin's Story Project
Exists to inspire people to explore this city — but we are not the only ones telling Joplin's story. The organizations on this page are the institutions, archives, museums, neighborhoods, and civic bodies that have been doing this work for years. Some for decades
Think of this page as your master resource guide. Whether you want to go deeper on a specific story, plan a visit to a museum, connect with the people preserving Joplin's architecture, or find out what is happening downtown right now — the right organization is listed here.
We encourage you to visit every one of them.
History & Museums
Explore the Collections
These institutions are the keepers of Joplin's physical history — the artifacts, the archives, the buildings, and the stories that would otherwise be lost. Each one is worth your time.
Joplin History & Mineral Museum
If you only visit one place in Joplin, make it here. The Joplin History & Mineral Museum houses Smithsonian-quality minerals from the Tri-State Mining District alongside rich exhibits covering the full sweep of Joplin's history — from its mining-boom origins to the Bonnie & Clyde incident to the stories of the people who built this city. The museum holds the camera and photographs from the 1933 Barrow Gang confrontation, making it an essential stop for anyone following the Bonnie & Clyde chapter of Joplin's story.
Historic Joplin
A dedicated resource for Joplin's architectural and community history, Historic Joplin works to document and share the stories of the city's buildings, neighborhoods, and people.
Joplin Historical Neighborhoods Museum
Located in the beautifully restored Schifferdecker and Zelleken homes in the Murphysburg Historic District, the Joplin Historical Neighborhoods Museum offers an immersive and innovative look at life in Joplin's most architecturally significant neighborhood. This is not a traditional museum experience — it is a walk through history in the actual homes where that history happened.
Freedom of Flight Museum
Located near the Joplin Regional Airport in Webb City, the Freedom of Flight Museum celebrates the history and evolution of aviation with a collection that spans the full arc of human flight. Joplin's deep connections to early American aviation — including the story of Bob Cummings and the city's own airplane manufacturer — make this museum a natural companion to the Joplin Takes Flight chapter of Joplin's Story Project.
Murphysburg Historic District
One of Joplin's most architecturally significant neighborhoods, Murphysburg was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015. The district's website offers walking tour maps, architectural guides, and information about the history of the neighborhood and its most notable homes — including the Schifferdecker House.
Post Art Library
A distinctive cultural destination serving the Joplin community, the Post Art Library connects residents and visitors with art, history, and the creative life of the city.
Joplin Historic Preservation Commission
The City of Joplin's official body for identifying, protecting, and celebrating the city's historic resources. The Commission works to ensure that Joplin's architectural and cultural heritage is recognized and preserved for future generations. If you are interested in the formal designation or protection of historic properties in Joplin, this is your starting point.
Joplin Historical Postcards — Digital Archive
An extraordinary digital collection of historic Joplin postcards, hosted by the Joplin Public Library. Browsing this archive is like flipping through a visual diary of the city across the decades — storefronts, streetscapes, landmarks, and moments in time that no longer exist except in these images.
Visitor & Tourism
Plan Your Visit to Joplin
These organizations are your best resources for planning a trip to Joplin — whether you are a Route 66 traveler stopping for an afternoon or a visitor spending several days exploring everything the city has to offer.
Convention & Visitors Bureau
The official visitor resource for Joplin, Missouri. The CVB offers comprehensive visitor guides, event calendars, attraction listings, hotel recommendations, dining guides, and maps for everything the city has to offer. If you are planning a trip to Joplin, start here.
Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce
The Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce supports business and economic strength in the region. The Chamber is the steward of Joplin's Story Project and is committed to connecting visitors and residents alike with the full depth of what Joplin has to offer.
Choose Joplin
Discover why Joplin is a great place to live, work, invest, and grow. Choose Joplin is the city's economic development resource, highlighting the opportunities and quality of life that make Joplin one of the most compelling mid-sized cities in the region.
Downtown Joplin Alliance
Dedicated to the vitality and growth of Joplin's downtown district, the Downtown Joplin Alliance is your best resource for what is happening in the heart of the city right now — restaurants, shops, events, development, and the ongoing story of a downtown that keeps getting better.
Working Together
Joplin's Story Is a Community Effort
The organizations listed on this page represent the broader community of people who care about Joplin's history, its present, and its future. Joplin's Story Project is proud to serve as a connecting point between visitors and the institutions that make this city worth knowing.
If you represent a Joplin history organization, museum, or preservation group that should be listed here, we would love to hear from you. This resource is only as strong as the community behind it.
Ready to Explore?
The Stories Are Waiting.
Now that you know who is telling Joplin's story, go experience it for yourself. Open the map app and start your self-guided tour — or head back to the stories and pick up where you left off.
A Leadership Joplin Class 2026 Project
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Various Joplin, MO photographs provided by 1281 Photography and Waypoint UAV.