Carthage - "A City With a Presence"
Jasper County was formed in 1841 and chosen as the as the county seat in 1842. By the time of the American Civil War, there were over 1000 residents, a brick and stone courthouse and several businesses.
The county was fiercely divided over slavery, and almost all of the blacks in the county were slaves. The Battle of Carthage, fought on July 5, 1861, was a clash between Union troops from St. Louis and Confederate troops led by the pro-Southern Missouri Governor Claiborne Fox Jackson. The "Second Battle of Carthage" occurred in October 1863 when Union troops confronted Confederate troops north of town and forced them to return to Arkansas. The town experienced minor skirmishes and attacks throughout the war; Confederate guerillas burned most of the city (including the courthouse) in September 1864.
The area grew rapidly following the Civil War. The Missouri Western Railroad arrived in 1872. Leggett and Platt, now a Fortune 500 company still based in Carthage, was founded in 1883. Nearby lead mines and a limestone quarries also contributed significant wealth and Carthage became one of the most prosperous towns in the area. Residents poured their money into ornate Victorian-style homes, many of which are now part of the Carthage South District, which was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. The Jasper County Courthouse, also on the National Register of Historic Places, was built of Carthage stone in 1894-95. There is a mural inside the courthouse depicting the history of Jasper County.
Numerous local buildings, in addition to the courthouse, were built in the late 19th and early 20th century out of stone from local quarries. The stone is hard enough to be polished into "Carthage marble" and was used in both the interior and exterior of the state capitol building in Jefferson City, Missouri.
U.S. Highways 66 and 71 came through town in the 1920s, and for a time the town saw a stream of cross-country traffic. Route 66 was eventually re-routed, and then replaced in the 1960s with Interstate 44 running south of town.
In the late 20th century, the town began actively courting tourism, emphasizing its history (the Battle of Carthage, Victorian architecture, and Historic Route 66), as well as its proximity to Precious Moments and country music destination Branson, Missouri.
Currently on display at Precious Moments, you can see, "Pink Ribbons Crusade". "A Date With Diana", one of the world's largest private Princess Diana collections. For Civil War buffs, don't miss the Carthage Civil War Museum. This museum presents artifacts and information about the Battle of Carthage and the Civil War in southwest Missouri. The focal point is a 7 by 15 foot mural painted by local Carthage artist, Andy Thomas, which features battle action on the courthouse square. You can also visit the Kendrick Place. While most of the building in Carthage were burned by guerilla riders during the Civil War, Kendrick house, used as command headquarters by both Northern and Southern forces, survived. Restored to its pre-Civil War appearance, it is like stepping back into history.
While you are here, learn more about Carthage at The Powers Museum, with exhibits that tell the stories of Carthage's past from the post Civil War period to the 20th century. Joplin is readily accessible to eight major lakes, numerous clear-water streams, and a number of entertainment and vacation attractions. We encourage you to bring your family and experience historical Carthage, Missouri for yourself!
Source:
City of Carthage
San Jose State University
Wikipedia Free Encyclopedia
