Carthage (Missouri) Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
city in Missouri, United States
About Carthage (Missouri)
Carthage was established in 1842 to serve as the county seat of Jasper County. As Missouri was sandwiched between the secessionist southern states and the abolitionist north, Carthage became a Civil War battlefield on July 5, 1861 and again in October 1863; pro-Confederate guerrillas burned much of the city in September 1864. The current Jasper County Courthouse, built of Carthage stone in 1894, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The history of the Civil War sites in the Missouri-Kansas border region fills a book, "The Big Divide" ISBN 978-0976443414, published in 2013. After the civil war, Carthage thrived as a rail town, a source for "Carthage marble" (a hard, polished limestone) and a highway crossroads when U.S. Highways 66 and 71 came to town in 1926.
Top Attractions in Carthage (Missouri)
Explore the best things to see and do in Carthage (Missouri):
- ★66 Drive-in Theatre
- ★Battle of Carthage Civil War Museum
- ★Battle of Carthage State Historic Site
- ★Jasper County Courthouse
- ★Kendrick House
- ★Precious Moments Chapel and Gift Shop
Where to Eat in Carthage (Missouri)
Must-try local food and restaurants:
- 🍴El Charro
- 🍴Iggy's Diner
- 🍴Whisler's Drive-Up
Where to Stay in Carthage (Missouri)
- 🏨Ballard's Campground
- 🏨Best Budget Inn
- 🏨Big Red Barn RV Park
- 🏨Boots Court
- 🏨Carthage Inn
- 🏨Coachlight RV Park
Carthage (Missouri) Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 10 sections including: