The Joplin History & Mineral Museum focuses on the history of Joplin, the heritage of southwest Missouri, and the story of lead and zinc mining in the region. It is comprised of two wings.
The Everett J. Ritchie Tri-State Mineral Collection displays the world’s most prestigious collection of Tri-State mineral specimens. Visitors will learn about the importance of mining in Joplin’s history through scale models, mined specimens, and mining equipment on display–and will walk away with an understanding of the role that minerals play in our everyday lives. Visitors will also encounter a small collection of natural history specimens including mammoth teeth, projectile points, and dinosaur bones.
The Dorothea B. Hoover Historical Museum emphasizes the growth and development of Joplin as the result of the mining in the Tri-State District. From the humble shovel to the House of Lords, Bonnie & Clyde’s infamous shootout to the 2011 tornado, visitors will learn about the key figures, events, and locations that have impacted Joplin’s transitional development over the last 150 years. The Dorothea B. Hoover Historical Museum also houses the National Cookie Cutter Historical Museum, the Joplin Fire Department’s 1926 American LaFrance Fire Engine, and a variety of rotating exhibits which lend understanding to the diversity of history that can be found in the Joplin area.
General Admission: $5; Seniors, Veterans, & Military personnel: $4; children 12 and under are free.