Things to do

Stroll through Joplin for a history lesson through its many murals. These larger-than-life works of art highlight the town’s mining heritage as well as its rich performing arts culture.

Get to know the town’s past at the Joplin History & Mineral Museum telling the story of the town and its mining history. Check out the National Historical Cookie Cutter Museum, which is in the same building. Two mining industry-centric museums with historical exhibits on town life & mineral collections.

Come and witness the stunning Grand Falls waterfall right next to the Wildcat Glades conservation center! You’ll be amazed by the breathtaking scenery, including lush walking trails and the crystal-clear waters of Shoal Creek. The waterfall itself is a sight to behold, cascading down a wide ledge spanning 163 feet. And if you’re up for some fun, there are refreshing creek pools where you can swim and even try your hand at fishing. It’s a picturesque oasis that will leave you in awe!

Stroll through Cunningham Park to see the poignant Butterfly Memorial dedicated to the victims and survivors of the 2011 tornado which hit Joplin.

George Washington Carver National Monument is a unit of the National Park Service in Newton County, Missouri. The national monument was founded on July 14, 1943, by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who dedicated $30,000 to the monument.

Many people believe it was named after the ragtime composer Scott Joplin who was from Missouri. But, in fact, it is named in honor of the Rev Harris Joplin, an early settler who founded the area’s first Methodist congregation. 

Joplin sits in the south-west corner of Missouri and is the largest city in Jasper County, although it’s still small and compact. 

• Joplin is surrounded by important cities including Dallas, Kansas City and Oklahoma City.  With its super highway connections – did we mention Route 66? – they’re easily accessible by car.
• It’s about an hour by the highway to Springfield and Bentonville, and two hours to Branson. Branson is worth a trip, time permitting, for its Silver Dollar City 1880s theme park, Titanic Museum, Hollywood Wax Museum, ziplining through the Ozark Mountains or trying watersports at Table Rock Lake. Springfield is the birthplace of Route 66 and Bentonville is said to be the mountain biking capital of the world as well as home to the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art with an incredible collection of art from Norman Rockwell to Andy Warhol.
• You can also get into some of America’s finest natural beauties by taking a hike through the Ozark Mountains.

All this makes Joplin an ideal vacation holiday for exploring cities and the great outdoors. We have houses with one to four bedrooms which are ideal for couples, families and small groups of friends.

The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is a renowned art museum in Bentonville, Arkansas, founded in 2005 by Alice Walton. Its collection features American art from colonial times to present day, including works by Norman Rockwell, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Andy Warhol. The museum’s stunning architecture seamlessly integrates with the surrounding landscape, and it also hosts temporary exhibitions and educational programs.

You can explore the great outdoors as this area enjoys rich natural beauty. Explore the Ozark mountains – you can go ziplining, hiking and caving. Just outside Bentonville is the Old Spanish Treasure Cave. A guided tour will reveal the fascinating legends of hidden treasure that had been buried by the Spanish Conquistadors. The vast Hobbs State Park conservation area is on the doorstep with lakes, trails and historic relics to explore.

Catch a performance and marvel at contemporary art in The Momentary arts space. The Momentary is a contemporary art space in Bentonville, Arkansas and operates as a satellite of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. It opened on February 22, 2020. It offers free public admission.