10. Connor Hotel
(1906-07; demolished;
Local Historical Trail marker on the site)
(324 Main)

This 210-room European-style hotel was built by Irish immigrant Thomas O’Connor. From the beginning, the $750,000, eight-story hotel was THE meeting place for Joplin and area residents. In 1929, Kansas City hosteller Barney Allis doubled the size of the hotel by constructing a west wing. By the 1960s, the grand hotel was in a state of decline. Several futile attempts were made to save the structure, including placing it on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. In 1978, one day before its scheduled demolition, the building unexpectedly collapsed, trapping three workmen beneath the rubble. National media attention covered the tragic event as rescuers worked around-the-clock in hopes of saving the men. Alfred Summers was rescued after being trapped for a total of 82 hours. Tragically, Thomas Oakes and Frederick Coe did not survive.