A jam-packed day today as we visited eight sites, museums and points of interest in Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma! Luckily these were all within a reasonable distance and we were able to have an enjoyable time.
Tri-State Marker
We started the morning just a few miles from here at the Tri-State Marker. This is the corner where Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma touch, It was originally identified back in 1857 by an 800-member expedition, taking them nearly six months, This graffiti trashed stone marker was created back in 1938 by the National Youth Administration. I assume there may be a ritual of busting a beer bottle on it as the entire area was covered with broken glass.
Picher OK|
From here we continued west and south to the former town of Picher OK, America's Most Toxic Ghost Town, according to The Oklahoman. Picher was a vibrant lead and zinc mining town that experienced a boom during the early 20th century, reaching a population of 14,000 by 1926. However, mining activity declined in the 1930s and ceased entirely by 1967, leading to the town's eventual abandonment. Picher is now a ghost town, a stark reminder of the town's industrial past and the environmental legacy of mining. Decades of lead and zinc mining left a legacy of environmental contamination, including polluted soil and groundwater. Here is a Google Maps view of Picher OK and all the zinc and lead mines that dot it's area.
The entrance to the school
Next stop was just a few miles south of Picher in Commerce OK. Mickey Mantle moved here when he was three years old, and started learning the game of baseball at age 5. Mickey learned switch-hitting with his father pitching to him right-handed and his grandfather left handed.
They used this tin shed next door as the backstop and there are dents remaining
Down the street is the Commerce High School baseball field and they have erected a statue of Mickey in his honor. 
In 1951 and at the age of 19, Mickey Mantle began his amazing career with the New York Yankees as a right fielder. As I played Little League baseball in the 1960's and traded baseball cards with my buddies, Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris were at the top of the list! Mantle’s career ended after the 1968 season with 536 home runs, seven World Series wins, numerous records, several most valuable player distinctions and more. In 1974, he was honored with an induction to the Baseball Hall of Fame."
Galena Mining and Historical Museum
From Commerce we headed back north from Oklahoma into Kansas to the town of Galena. This put us right on the old and historic Route 66. There we attempted to see the Galena Mining and Historical Museum, but it was closed for lunch and we were not going to hand around. We looked at the outside stuff a bit and then headed down the road back towards Joplin.
From Commerce we headed back north from Oklahoma into Kansas to the town of Galena. This put us right on the old and historic Route 66. There we attempted to see the Galena Mining and Historical Museum, but it was closed for lunch and we were not going to hand around. We looked at the outside stuff a bit and then headed down the road back towards Joplin.
Rock Island train engines
Galena Gearheads Curios
Before we departed Galena we stopped at the Gearhead Curios in a restored Texaco filling station. The building was constructed out of native stone in 1939, and served Route 66 travelers for decades. 
Starting in the mineral and mining side, there were many displays of the various minerals found here and many displays of mining hardware, tools and equipment. Upstairs is a huge diorama of a mining operation.
Part of this museum is dedicated to cookie cutters, the baking tool that creates sugar cookies in all sorts of shapes and sizes! 
Other historical displays that reflect various periods in Joplin MO:
American Flag made out of license plates
"You can trust your car to the man who wears a star!"
Joplin History and Mineral Museum
Before we left Galena we stopped at the Dairy Queen for a welcome afternoon treat. Then we continued east into Joplin stopping at the Joplin History and Mineral Museum. This is really two separate museums under one roof. The left side is all about minerals and Joplin's history in mining. The right side is a history museum highlighting Joplin's past. We knew today was going to be a long day so we brought Liberty with us and the museum staff welcomed Liberty with open arms!
Outside displays of various mining equipment
Starting in the mineral and mining side, there were many displays of the various minerals found here and many displays of mining hardware, tools and equipment. Upstairs is a huge diorama of a mining operation.
The diorama of a mining operation
We moved to the Joplin history side of the museum and one of the major events in recent history was the EF5 tornado that occurred during the evening hours of Sunday, May 22, 2011. This catastrophic tornado damaged nearly 8,000 buildings, and of those, destroying over 4,000 houses, one of two hospitals and much of it's infrastructure, totaling over $2.9 billion (over $4 billion in todays money). They did not have many displays on the tornado but this splintered tree says a lot:
The rest of the history portion talked about Joplin in it's early years. Joplin was established in 1873 and expanded significantly from the wealth created by the mining of zinc. Later after WWII the mineral prices dropped but tourism exploded and the famous Route 66 passes right through Joplin.
The Millar Assay office
A soda fountain
Some artifacts relating to the famous Bonnie & Clyde shoot-out on 13 Apr 1933.
One of Joplin's old fire engines, a beautiful restored 1926 American LaFrance.
Route 66 Mural Park
We departed the museum and headed downtown to see the Route 66 Mural Park. Known as the Mother Road, Route 66 was constructed in the 1920s and was established in 1926, reaching from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California. By the 1950s, it was heavily traveled by vacationers making their way out west. This park pays homage to Route 66 with two large tile murals and red sports car for a photo op. 
Bonnie & Clyde Apartment Shootout
Bonnie & Clyde Apartment Shootout
Our last stop today was the apartment over a garage where on 13 April 1933, criminals Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow got into a famous shootout. They were staying there with members of their gang but their actions and flashy cars drew unwanted attention. Law enforcement investigated and a shootout occurred. Two local officers died and the gang escaped. The undeveloped film and other items left in the apartment helped law enforcement raise awareness on the gang and they finally met their demise one year later in May 1934. This was just a drive-by for us as it is not open to the public, but still very interested coupled with the bullet-riddled door display we saw in the Joplin Museum. 
The door with bullet holes from the apartment shootout
Tomorrow will not be as busy. We plan to see the Precious Moments Chapel and Gift Shop and then head up to Carthage and the Civil War Museum and Courthouse.
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