Despite its humble beginnings in 1873, Joplin would eventually be crowned the Zinc Capital of the World. Joplin’s heritage is directly linked with its seventy-five year involvement in the zinc and lead mining industry. Huge dark caverns beneath the earth's surface, rich in zinc and lead deposits, created, then transformed Joplin from a small mining town into a formidable city--the pride of the four-state area.

Joplin is blessed with a rich history. The purpose of this website is to showcase the people, the events, and the actual sites that make up Joplin’s legacy. Two maps are included to help define and locate Joplin’s significant historical sites.

This website expands upon the information in the 2003 brochure "Joplin, Missouri: A Historic Guide" written by Brad Belk and Leslie Simpson. The brochure, which was funded through the Joplin Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and the Missouri Department of Tourism, is available at the Joplin Convention Visitor’s Bureau, Joplin Public Library, Post Memorial Art Reference Library, and Joplin Museum Complex.