Joplin Archives - Our Changing Lives

Have You Heard Of The Peanut Man?
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Have You Heard Of The Peanut Man?

Like many of you, we associated the name George Washington Carver with peanuts, but couldn't really tell you why. The knowledge that he was a botanist seemed familiar, but that was about the extent of what we remembered from school. A visit to the George Washington Carver National Monument would forever change this. The site is located in Diamond, Missouri, which lies just about 20 minutes south of Joplin. Our contact at Visit Joplin suggested a visit, so we made sure to add it to our itinerary. It ended up being an educational eye-opener. The Early Years Born into slavery in the 1860s, [...]

By Jeff & Crystal|2022-10-06T13:24:31-06:00April 23rd, 2018|Destinations, Joplin, Midwest, Missouri, Route 66 Missouri|7 Comments

What To Expect At The Joplin History Museum
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What To Expect At The Joplin History Museum

When the name of Joplin, Missouri is mentioned, many will think immediately of the 2011 EF5 tornado that devastated portions of the city. Joplin is so much more than that. It has a rich history reaching back before the Civil War. We stopped in the Joplin Museum Complex to learn more about this southwestern Missouri city. The official name of this portion of the museum complex is the Dorothea B. Hoover Historical Museum. It is laid out as an assembly of collections, with each having its specific gallery area. We want to thank the Joplin Museum Complex and Visit Joplin, Mo. for their hospitality. Rest assured that [...]

By Jeff & Crystal|2022-10-06T13:24:31-06:00April 16th, 2018|Destinations, Joplin, Midwest, Missouri, Route 66, Route 66 Missouri|6 Comments

Candy House Gourmet – A Sweet Story
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Candy House Gourmet – A Sweet Story

Let’s just face the facts. We like chocolate! There, it has been said, and there is no taking it back. This may be the reason why so many of our trips include a visit to a chocolate shop. We like to think it is just a service we provide for our readers who are looking for a sweet treat option when touring a destination. At least that is our way of convincing ourselves we are just doing public service work. Whatever the reason, we have had tremendous fortune in digging up some wonderful chocolatiers during our travels. In Joplin, Missouri our [...]

By Jeff & Crystal|2022-10-06T13:24:31-06:00April 2nd, 2018|Destinations, Joplin, Midwest, Missouri, Route 66, Route 66 Missouri|3 Comments

Eagle Drive In – Not Your Average Burger Stand
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Eagle Drive In – Not Your Average Burger Stand

At one time or another most of us have stopped into one of those little roadside burger joints for a cheap meal. Usually, they have a name like Dairy-Inn or Pop's Burger Stand. You can almost be guaranteed that the menu will consist of greasy burgers and fries, and not much more. In Joplin, we happened upon a place that screamed of this type of establishment, but we had been promised it would be different. The Eagle Drive-In even has a name that would perfectly fit this old-school dive, but we were about to be blown away. Diamond in the Rough Upon arriving [...]

By Jeff & Crystal|2022-10-06T13:24:31-06:00March 26th, 2018|Destinations, Joplin, Midwest, Missouri, Route 66 Missouri|8 Comments

Digging The Joplin Mining Museum
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Digging The Joplin Mining Museum

Many people are unaware of the integral role that mining played in the settlement and growth of communities in Southwest Missouri and Southeast Kansas. The discovery of lead in the mid-1800's drew miners to the area. Our visit to the Joplin History & Mineral Museum allowed us a chance to learn more about the history of mining in the region. We want to thank the Joplin Museum Complex for their hospitality. Rest assured all opinions are our own. Early Fascination During my childhood, my grandparents moved to the small town of West Mineral, Kansas, which lies in the Southeast corner of Kansas. My [...]

By Jeff & Crystal|2022-10-06T13:24:32-06:00March 19th, 2018|Destinations, Joplin, Midwest, Missouri, Route 66 Missouri|10 Comments

Focus On The Food At The Bruncheonette
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Focus On The Food At The Bruncheonette

Joplin, Missouri has an interesting Route 66 history. The city actually has multiple paths, since the route was realigned a couple of times. While we were making our itinerary for a visit to Joplin, we worked with Carrie Puffinbarger at Visit Joplin. She pointed us toward testing the eats at The Bruncheonette, a local hotspot that rests on the 1937 to 1945 alignment. What we found there confirmed our belief of listening to the locals. […]

By Jeff & Crystal|2022-10-06T13:24:32-06:00March 12th, 2018|Destinations, Joplin, Midwest, Missouri, Route 66, Route 66 Missouri|24 Comments