Presentation Link for Joplin’s 150 Anniversary

Joplin 150th Anniversary website

On the heels of Missouri’s bi-centennial in 2021, Joplin is making plans for its 150th birthday next year. KRPS’s Fred Fletcher-Fierro has more.

For future historians, Missouri’s bi-centennial may be best known for taking place during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Regardless of the condition of the pandemic, the state held events and festivities, including hundreds of ice cream socials on August 10, 2021, the date Missouri celebrated its bicentennial.

On Monday night, during the informal portion of the Joplin city council meeting, Joplin’s Director of Convention and Visitors Bureau, Patrick Tuttle, updated the city council on plans being made to mark Joplin’s 150 years of cityhood.

“One of the biggest projects that were working on is recognizing Perry Winwood. He’s the Joplin Kid. Percy is from Joplin. And made a huge mark on ragtime music, really a piece of Americana.”

Events will include a return of The Great Race in June of next year, several cultural events including art displays, and the addition of markers to Joplin’s heritage display. Joplin’s sesquicentennial is March 23, 2023.