This charming book is one of the most complete photographic records of Joplin, Missouri, at the beginning of a new century. By 1900, Joplin has become a city of both millionaires and miners and was certainly one of the most important cities in Missouri. Some of the millionaires had actually begun their lives as miners and had struck it rich in the lead and zinc deposits in the area. The 125 photographs include more than three dozen pictures of the private homes of these self-made men.

Also included are scores of photographs of the businesses and industries that had sprung up to support the mining industry and the miners.

The introduction was written by Joel Livingston, a resident of Joplin who went on to write the mammoth History of Jasper County Missouri and Its People in 1912.

There are two ways to look at this book - a browsing collection of thumbnail images and a keyword index to all of the data included in the descriptions. When you retrieve the large scale image, click on the "Description" tab at the top to see more information. For many of the images we have included the architectural style of the building - especially of the private residences - and a brief note about whether or not the building still exists and what occupies the site.

This project has been made possible by a Library Services and Technology Grant administered by the Missouri State Library, a division of the office of the Missouri Secretary of State.