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By the
end of the nineteenth century,
Carthage
had more millionaires per capita than any other city in the United
States. The primary source of the wealth were the rich deposits of
lead and zinc and soon, the mine owners began to build fine homes in
Carthage. Huge deposits of gray marble at the north edge of
Carthage
provided another source of prosperity. In fact, the
Missouri
State Capitol, U.S. Capitol and White House are faced with marble that
came from the
Carthage
area.
Yet more
mills and factories began to pop up in the thriving rebuilt city. By the year 1900,
Carthage
had
approximately 12,000 inhabitants and over one hundred business and
industrial concerns.
When
Route 66
was built through the town,
Carthage
was soon proclaimed by its Chamber of Commerce as "The Open Gate to
the Ozarks." In no time, all manner of services began to spring up to
serve the many travelers of the
Mother Road.
As you travel through
Carthage
you will see the Powers Museum located on the first alignment of
Route 66 on
Carthage’s
west side along with Municipal Park that was developed during the
1930s thanks to several New Deal programs. This site was once
home to the Taylor Tourist Park, later renamed the Park Motor Court
and Café.
The Taylor Tourist Park is no longer in
Carthage,
Missouri.
On this site is where the Powers Museum is
now located.
As
Route 66 winds its way
through
Carthage,
you can see many historical buildings on the Town Square including its
1894 historic courthouse.
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