(Joplin, MO) – Visit Joplin will host the 2026 annual gathering of the Jefferson Highway Association during their Crossroads of America Centennial Celebration, September 19– 22, 2026.
Founded in 1915, the Jefferson Highway, often referred to as “Pines to Palms,” was a historic, long-distance north-south auto trail that stretched 2,400 miles from Winnipeg in Manitoba, Canada, to New Orleans, Louisiana. The Jefferson Highway Association works to preserve, promote, and interpret the history of this important part of transportation history.
Free public activities, in association with the Missouri Route 66 Association, will take place at Schifferdecker Park and the Joplin History & Mineral Museum on Saturday, September 19, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm and include a historic roadside camping display, free Museum admission, presentations, exhibits, music, and a trivia competition.
“We are extremely excited to be able to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the crossing of the historic Jefferson Highway with Route 66,” says Jefferson Highway Association president Roger Bell. “The north-south Jefferson Highway and east-west Route 66 both have a strong legacy with Joplin, and in 1926, Joplin proclaimed itself as the Crossroads of America.” Over a century of history is coming together in Joplin. Bell concludes, “This will be a unique event that combines the legacies of two historic highways and two highway preservation organizations, and we hope the public will come out to support our events on Saturday and throughout our activities.”
For more information, please click here.
Reference:
Patrick Tuttle, Director
Joplin Convention and Visitors Bureau
417.625.4789
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