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Southwest Missouri Electric Railroad


category : Railroad History
Southwest Missouri Electric Railroad

A.H. Rogers built a mule-drawn streetcar line from Webb City to Carterville in 1889, predeccessor of the South West Missouri Electric Railway. Established in 1893, it was expanded in the 1900s to a vast interurban system.

The power house and main offices and shops of the Southwest Missouri ElectricRailway were located in Webb City, serving the surrounding area and providing a recreational center at Lakeside in the early 1900s. The railway passed over the principal streets, reaching all the railroad depots, and furnished quick and convenient transportation to Joplin and Galena on the west and to Carterville, Prosperity and Carthage on the east.

The Webb City Chamber of Commerce is housed in the stone depot of the Electric Railway located at King Jack Park. The Clubhouse which was an employee gathering place is now the home to the Historical Society, and a large shop across the street from The Clubhouse is now occupied by the Skate Center.


Admission: Free
Hours: Daily
Address: King Jack Park, Hwy 71, MacArthur Blvd.

Come visit us in Webb City, Missouri

Attractions and Upcoming Events

Old Route 66

The 100 block of North Main remains as a section of the historical old Route 66

Webb City, MO Historic Downtowns

Outdoor Mural

This mural painted on the old Route 66

Webb City, MO Arts

The Clubhouse

The Clubhouse was built by the Southwest Missouri Electric Railway and is now the home to the Webb City Historical Society whose mission is collecting, preserving, and sharing Webb City's history. Historical exhibits are on display at various schedules throughout the year.

Webb City, MO Museums

Bittersweet Gallery

Jack E. Dawson is an artist who has been in the art field for over 30 years. He has used many different media in his artwork including oil, watercolor, acrylic, sculptures and chalk.

Some of his most notable works include:


Praying Hands Memorial

Nestled in the small Midwest town of Webb City, Missouri, the Heartland of America, stands the Praying Hands Memorial. Its stately vigil of more than twenty years is a silent testimony of the need for individual reflection and commitment.

In 1971, Jack Dawson, a 20

Webb City, MO Arts

Things to do Railroad History near Webb City, MO