Long before Route 66, the Ozark Motor Tour made a stop in Webb City

Here is a new photo, of the Ozark Motor Tour, for our archives. It is a copy of a postcard that was dated 1919. We could not find mention of the tour in a 1919 paper, but we did find a mention in a 1920 edition of the Carthage Press.

As you can tell, the photo was taken looking toward the northwest corner of Webb and Joplin (Broadway) streets, which would later become a sharp turn on Route 66. That’s the Wagner Building in the background, along with the telephone building, which are both still standing. The police department’s administrative offices are now in the telephone building.

Above one of the cars, you can see a Sentinel sign on the building.

“Ozark Motor Tour” can be seen on the signs attached to the back of the cars. They apparently name various Springfield sponsors.

There is mention of the Springfield Republican’s Ozark Motor Tour in the June 28, 1920, edition of The Carthage Press. They reported that 125 Springfield boosters were taking part in the tour.

The 30-car delegation came to Carthage from Joplin, where the drivers had spent the night. The Carthage entertainment committee met the visitors in Webb City and escorted them to Carthage.