Southwest Missouri
Joplin City Hall holds a Thomas Hart Benton mining mural
Joplin's City Hall displays Thomas Hart Benton's mural about Joplin at the turn of the century, tying civic space to mining history.
Joplin City Hall carries a public-art clue to Jasper County history. The city lists Thomas Hart Benton’s mural, “Joplin At The Turn Of The Century, 1896-1906,” as a permanent display in City Hall. The same city source says the mural was dedicated on Joplin’s 100th birthday in 1973 and depicts early Joplin and its mining history.
That makes the mural useful for more than art trivia. It gives a local reader a civic place to connect Joplin government, downtown, and the mining story that shaped the city.
Use the city FAQ for the public-viewing location and hours before planning a visit.
References
Where this fits: this note belongs to Jasper County. See every local note for the county on its page.