Carthage, MO

Just before you come into Carthage, you will pass by the Crapduster sculpture, which is a flying manure spreader created by local artist Lowell Davis. This sculpture reportedly was dedicated to a local businessman who was full of...., well, you know!

Davis has erected a replica ghost town call Red Oak II a few miles northeast of Carthage just off Route 66. Davis grew up in the real Red Oak, which is a real ghost town. He moved and restored a bunch of buildings from the original Red Oak, and he has added other buildings, including a Phillips 66 Station, an old school house, a feed store, a diner, a town hall, a blacksmith shop and more. Davis himself lives in the house where notorious female outlaw Belle Starr lived.

Carthage has an impressive town Square featuring the Jasper County Courthouse, which was built in 1894. Belle Starr, whose maiden name was Myra Belle Shirley, grew up in her father's hotel on the North side if this Square. She supposedly fought with Quantrill's Raiders after her brother Bud was killed. She later married Sam Starr from Oklahoma Territory and became a famous woman outlaw.

The Boots Court opened about a block off the Town Square in 1939. It was a big deal because it had a radio in every room. For years, the Boots had a false roof that was not original, and a sign that said "Boots Motel" that was not original. The false roof has been removed, and the new "Boots Court" sign is a replica of original. There are five restored rooms from its 1946 annex. The plan is to restore the entire motel.

Bar wise, there is Jim's Bar right off the Square. It has been in operation for 32 years and is in a 120 year old building. Plus, it is haunted. Employees tell stories of plates in the kitchen flying around and other unexplainable incidents. Go to YouTube, then search ghost orb YouTube best, and a video of an orb at Jim's will come up. A bunch of ghost hunter type TV shows have been there, and they all claim that there are spirits in Jim's. Who you gonna call...Ghost Busters! It has liquor and beer, but is not open on Sundays.

There also is the Route 66 Drive In Theater, which has been named as the best drive in theater in America. It is open only for the summer season.

The battle of Carthage Civil War Museum features a mural depicting the Battle of Carthage, which was fought on July 5, 1861. Supposedly, it was the first Civil War battle that pitted Northern and Southern land soldiers against each other.