Paving of Route 66
On November 14, 1926 the paving of Route 66 between Springfield and Joplin was completed. For several years, getting between the two cities in southwest Missouri had been unusually complicated, as there was no direct route available.
May 17, 1956
Elvis Presley performs at the Shrine Mosque in downtown Springfield after briefly disappearing.
April 22, 1960
On this date in Missouri history, Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield is established. The battle, the first in Missouri’s long Civil War history, took place on August 10, 1861, west of Springfield.