D - MO/KS JH Caravan -- The Miner's Drive, Sept. 17-19

 JH Caravan #2 - The Miner's Drive, September 17-19

Sample both the Missouri and Kansas JH starting in Harrisonville and venturing to Butler MO then on to Nevada MO, Fort Scott KS, continuing the journey into Crawford County KS (Pittsburg) for the first night. Friday will be dedicated to Pittsburg, Frontenac & Franklin KS. Saturday morning the group will arrive in Joplin to meet up with JH Caravan #1, the Route 66 Association of Missouri's Fall Motor Tour and other groups to kick-off our conference and start Saturday's activities.  The early Frontier, Mining and Civil War history will be themes of several of stops along the way of this two-day exploration of the Jefferson Highway route in two states.

Here is some detail on the north to south “Miner’s Tour” Sociability Caravan on the Jefferson Highway Routing.

• This tour will be led by Jefferson Highway Association Vice-President Frank Justus of Smithville, Missouri and Jefferson Highway Board Member Terry Wood from Plattsburg, Missouri.

• The drive will explore sections of the routing in both Missouri and Kansas with a cross-over from JH routing in Missouri and Kansas between Nevada and Fort Scott. The group will witness historic sections of the route, view a new JH mural in downtown Butler and many similar sites.

• Registration for the special drive will include a fee of $20 per car for JHA members and $30 per car for non-members will be charged. Registration can be accessed here. This fee includes a guidebook and related information. All meal stops and related travel expense will be self- pay.

• Lodging block in place for official hotel for two nights at Hampton Inn & Suites Pittsburg Kansas Crossing (620) 231-3100 for Jefferson Highway Rate of $109 per night.

https://www.hilton.com/en/book/reservation/deeplink/?ctyhocn=PTSSNHX&groupCode=CHH90Y&arrivaldate=2026-09-17&departuredate=2026-09-19&cid=OM,WW,HILTONLINK,EN,DirectLink&fromId=HILTONLINKDIRECT

• Starting Point will be in Harrisonville, Missouri on the Morning of Thursday, September 17th at the Cass Count Historical Society Museum at 400 East. Mechanic Street Harrisonville, Missouri. There will be no official overnight on Wednesday night but the tour group will meet at the museum by 10 a.m.

• Thursday will include a caravan drive together with stops in places such as Butler, Missouri, Rich Hill, Missouri, Nevada, Missouri, and Fort Scott, Kansas

• The group will spend the majority of Friday, September 18th in and around the Pittsburg, Kansas area including a special visit to our friends at the Miner’s Hall Museum in Franklin Kansas.

The group will have a special tour visit at the official Jefferson Highway Archives located at Pittsburg State University on Friday.

The Miner’s Hall Museum in Franklin, a JH official visitor center will have special activities for the group. 

• Saturday morning – the group will head towards Joplin on the original routing from Pittsburg to Joplin on the JH route through Opolis, Kansas and through Carl Junction Missouri before arriving at historic Schifferdecker Park in Joplin at approximately 10 a.m. to meet up with the other tours and begin the Crossroads Celebration Event activities.

• Official “Miners Tour” T-shirts and a few related caravan items will be available for pre-order by August 5th on the Jefferson Highway website. Pickup will be during the caravan. NO prior mailing of shirts.

Information on the other tours will be provided in additional JH Facebook posts over the month of August and also information to further explain the activities and events in Joplin.

Make your plans now to be part of the Crossroads of America Celebration and these special tours.    Registration is available now at Jeffersonhighway.org.   If you have questions, please email us directly at info@jeffersonhighway.org

Cost for JH Members $20 per car, $30 per car for non-JH members. One caravan booklet per car included in fee.

Disability Waivers must be signed by all members participating.