Joplin Tornado Memorial, Volunteer Tribute and Children's Memorial
Directly in front of you is the Volunteer Tribute, designed and built by Drury University to honor the 126,000+ volunteers who came to the aid of Joplin within minutes, for months and beyond. The four circles represent Rescue, Recovery, Demolition, and Rebirth. A center mosaic recalls the "Butterfly Stories" children told after the storm. The shards of the mosaic pedestals symbolize broken lives put back together. A bronze hardhat, gloves, sledgehammer, and hammer testify to the valiant efforts of the volunteers.
To the south beyond the Volunteer Tribute, lies a memorial plaque for the 161 lives lost. It sits next to a historic fountain recreated in their honor. Exactly 161 trees are planted in the park.
To the southwest, the reflecting pond honors the children lost. The pond sits on the site of the original playground.
Erected by TKF Foundation and the City of Joplin.
Topics. This historical marker and memorial is listed in this topic list: Disasters.
Location. 37° 3.831′ N, 94° 31.794′ W. Marker is in Joplin, Missouri, in Jasper County. Marker is on Maiden Lane north of 26th Street/Gabby Street Boulevard, on the right when traveling north. Marker is part of the Butterfly Garden and Overlook.
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. St. John's Regional Medical Center (here, next to this marker); Butterfly Garden and Overlook (here, next to this marker); Tornado Statistics - May 22, 2011 - Joplin, MO (a few steps from this marker); Recovery Efforts: After the Storm (a few steps from this marker); Survivor Quotes (a few steps from this marker); The Butterfly People (a few steps from this marker); A Tribute to the Volunteers (within shouting distance of this marker); The Miracle of the Human Spirit - Joplin 2011 (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Joplin.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.
Also see . . . Butterfly Garden and Overlook. (Submitted on October 2, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on December 18, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 2, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 521 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 2, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
