FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Everyone has their own curiousity about them. Everyone likes to ask questions. We asked around and found the top 5 questions asked about Joplin, Missouri.
01
Who were Dorothea B. Hoover and Everett J. Ritchie?
Dorothea B. Hoover was instrumental in the formation of the Joplin Historical Society and the Historical Museum. She was an early advocate of historic preservation, actively collecting and preserving artifacts of Joplin's early history. As the daughter of an early pioneer family, the Bliedungs, she lived in the magnificence of Joplin's boom years. After attending Wellsley College and pursuing a career in Washington, D.C., she returned to her hometown to become a major cultural force.
Everett Ritchie was the curator of the Tri-State Mineral Museum for over thirty years. He was a Chemical Engineer at Eagle Picher prior to his involvement with the mineral museum. It was Mr. Ritchie who organized the specimens and created the displays in 1994, which are still used in the mineral museum wing. The Joplin City Council decided to honor Everett's years of dedication by renaming the mineral museum wing after him.
02
When was Joplin, Missouri founded?
It was founded in 1873. It was a mining boomtown.
03
What was mined in Joplin, Missouri?
Lead and Zinc. Early mining was for lead but since zinc is seven times more abundant than lead in this area, the mining soon shifted mainly to zinc.
04
Is mining still going on today?
No. All organized, commercial mining ended in the late 1960's and early 1970's. Since then, the ground water has risen, completely flooding the mines.
05
What does the Museum exhibit?
The Joplin Museum Complex displays mineral specimens typical of the areas geology and artifacts that illustrate Joplin's rich history.