Joplin in Jasper County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

St. John's Regional Medical Center

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., September 27, 2017

1. St. John's Regional Medical Center Marker

Inscription.

At the peak of the hill in the distance, is an outdoor chapel. The chapel sits on the sit of what was St. John's Regional Medical Center at the location of the old chapel. At 5:41 pm, the tornado reached its highest intensity at 26th and Maiden Lane, where the 200+ mph winds ripped through Cunningham Park and moved St. John's four inches off its foundation.

The hospital was evacuated, and the injured were directed to Memorial Hall. Doctors, nurses, and city of Joplin employees, acted very quickly to save many lives.

"May this sacred place help heal the emotional scars left behind from both their service and their sacrifice to the city of Joplin during its darkest hours".
— Chris Cotten

Erected by TKF Foundation and the City of Joplin.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Science & Medicine.

Location. 37° 3.831′ N, 94° 31.796′ 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. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Cunningham Park, Joplin MO 64804, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this

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marker. Joplin Tornado Memorial, Volunteer Tribute and Children's Memorial (here, next to this marker); Butterfly Garden and Overlook (here, next to this marker); Tornado Statistics - May 22, 2011 - Joplin, MO (here, next to 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.

Also see . . .
1. Image Showing 2011 Tornado Zone and Ruins of St. John's Hospital in foreground, now Mercy Park. (Submitted on October 3, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Damaged Joplin hospital almost the only building left standing in area (CNN, May 23, 2011). (Submitted on October 3, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. Butterfly Garden and Overlook. (Submitted on October 3, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., September 27, 2017

2. St. John's Regional Medical Center Marker

The pyramidal roof of the Mercy Park outdoor chapel is seen in the far left distance

Mercy Park Outdoor Chapel image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., September 27, 2017

3. Mercy Park Outdoor Chapel

At the top of the staircase

Butterfly Garden and Overlook image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr.

4. Butterfly Garden and Overlook

Frame structures representing the thousands of homes destroyed in the 2011 tornado

Credits. This page was last revised on December 18, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 3, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 857 times since then and 116 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 3, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 4. submitted on October 2, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.