Carthage, Missouri is a distinctive old Route 66 town. There's a lot of the old Mother Road left here too. Originally Carthage was founded in 1842. As Route 66 winds its way towards Carthage the tower of the imposing structure that is the courthouse can be seen from miles away. The downtown district around the courthouse is a picturesque plaza filled with small shops, antiques and art galleries. In many ways it will take you back one hundred years to the splendid age when Carthage had more millionaires than any other town in America at the time because of the lead and zinc mines.
Route 66 winds its way through Carthage about a block from the Town Square. Along its corridor stands the famous Boots Motel, which was built in 1939 by Arthur Boots "At the Crossroads of America.", and still carries his name today. The "Motel" was saved from demolition by two sisters who are presently restoring the property to the way it was in 1949, and with the five rooms in the detached annex being completed and opened-for-business in 2012, this famous building is a classic example of Streamline Modern Architecture, one of the last left along Route 66.
Picture country lanes you would find in a calendar, or as my granddaughter says “Tree Tunnels” as you drive along this wondrous stretch of the Mother Road. The section of Route 66 that passes through this part of Missouri is much quieter today than during its heyday. It is more like a park than a once major U.S. Highway.
You would do good to stop and smell the flowers in the “glow” of the neon lights. There is no room for swag in this container and bring your own pen.
***Permission was granted to place this cache by the manager of the property***