Springfield, Missouri - Queen city of the Ozarks

[kcexpress69]

You should know by now that I'm gonna start this off with a bunch of rambling. But that's the way it goes!! It's the only way I know how to set up what you're about to see on this thread!! Now pay attention!!

What I just did over the last few days I will never do again. Having said that, it was well worth it!! I'm on vacation this week, and I just spent the last 3 days covering several cities and shooting several hundred pictures. Add in several miles of walking on foot, and you have one exhausted individual who can't wait to share his experience with the forumers of Skyscraper Page!!

Springfield Missouri, City # 1

This is the longest thread I have posted to date. Perhaps it's because I lived here for four years. I went Southwest Missouri State University from 1990 to 1994. It is now called Missouri State University. I know this city very well. However, when you have been away for so long, things change. I mean they REALLY change!! Thankfully for the better!! When I was here. Springfield only seemed to care about where the growth was which was in the outer ring of the city. Downtown was not impressive at all. Now, influenced by MSU, it's starting to make it's triumphant return!! OK!! I'll shut up now and let the pictures do the talking!!

Downtown Springfield



Hammons Tower, Springfield's tallest!!



This parking garage is new!




The downtown ballpark. Springfield is home to one of the STL Cardinals farm teams!!


A few views from a parking garage








On to Park Central Square It still needs work but has improved greatly!!











Thank goodness they're finally doing something with that building on the left!! They stripped off a very hidious facade!!




As you can see, the square is nothing but a nice park that you circle around!!




Leaving Park Central Square















I worked as an intern at this building during my last semester!



The Shrine Mosque!! It's a concert hall. I saw many hair bands play here, back when I still had my mullet. Speaking of, where did all of my hair go??



The newly remodeled and expanded convention center!!


Kentwood Hall. Now a residence hall for MSU. It was once a hotel!! Many notables, including Harry S. Truman, Groucho Marx, and Ronald Reagan during his acting years stayed here!!









I liked going here!!


Heading across the railroad tracks going north




The University is expanding over here!! Great idea!!



More lofts!! Gotta love it!!





Heading north about a mile, we come to the historic Commercial Street!! At one time this was a separate town. When I was living in Springfield, this place was pretty gritty!! It's slowly transforming into a diverse environment!





The Missouri Hotel. A homeless shelter and a soup kitchen












A little farmers market








Heading south about a half mile is Drury University










He seems very happy.....and catatonic!!




Central High School....Old and new!!



A very nice neighborhood north of Drury U.




















A few shots of the government complex just north of downtown





Sombody's Smart


By the way, I have to give huge props to this one as well!! It aided me to take several hundred miles for some great upcoming threads!!

Just checking in on the ole homestead!! I lived here!! I thought you should know that!!


And finally, A few shots of my alma mater Missouri State University!!











Time to have some dinner!! Formally known as Pasta Express, I practically lived here when I wasn't at school!! It deserved a spot on this thread!!


One last shot of Springfield..............Wait a second!! What the hell is this?? I'm sorry!! I don't know what the hell's going on here!! Damn those power lines!!


I'm heading into the Ozarks!! With a little Ozric Tentacles, Porcupine Tree, and an awesome view to keep me company, I'm happy!! It's getting late and I need to start looking for a place to sleep!!






It's going to be a busy day tomorrow!! So much to do and so little time to do it!! So much going through my head!! Where am I gonna go? How am I gonna go at it?? Am I this damn crazy over a web site?? I guess I am!!

Stay tuned........... You will see more!! Good night!!

[Top Of The Park]

Hey...I like it. However that black monolith building would be hard to look at daily. Good looking ball park.

[HomeInMyShoes]

What, no Brad Pitt sightings! :|

Although not born there, he grew up there. Apparently he's got a cabin out on Lake of the Ozarks as well.

You are indeed crazy kcexpress69, but your craziness is skyscraperpage's gain.

[skyline]

What city is your last skyline shot (the one with the power lines)? Little Rock?

[Texas Tuff]

Very nice pics! My dad is from Bolivar MO, about 30 miles north of Springfield, and over the years I've gone over to Springfield many times while visiting family that still live in that area. It's a very nice city and I love all those beautiful Ozark lakes that are in the region. Anyway, thanks again for the tour!

[detmi7mile]

Awesome!!Thanks

[Thundertubs]

Another great tour of a city we virtually never see here!

I really liked Commercial Street and the pedestrian bridge. I saw that area on satellite imagery and was curious.

With the first photo labeled as 'Downtown' I was horrified at the sea of parking with a few isolated towers poking out, it was a relief to see the propper downtown a few pics later.

Keep it up!

[Evergrey]

dude.. I love Porcupine Tree too! Nothin' like road trippin' with a little Tree on the stereo. I've only heard a little Ozric.. are they entirely instrumental?

Great tour, btw. I hope you do more of these trips

[Kingofthehill]

Nice parking garage!

[kcexpress69]

Originally Posted by Thundertubs

Another great tour of a city we virtually never see here!

Originally Posted by Thundertubs

I really liked Commercial Street and the pedestrian bridge. I saw that area on satellite imagery and was curious.

With the first photo labeled as 'Downtown' I was horrified at the sea of parking with a few isolated towers poking out, it was a relief to see the propper downtown a few pics later.

Keep it up!

That sea of parking with the Hammons Tower and the others was Springfield's lame attempt at urban renewal during the 80s'. Kind of like your Albany thread with the Agency towers. It was like having a small office park several blocks away from the main part of downtown. I really didn't want to start off with that picture. If I had a true overhead shot that covered downtown, I would have used it first. Maybe KCGridlock can help out with that!!




What city is your last skyline shot (the one with the power lines)? Little Rock?

Doesn't that view look like Springfield? Maybe it's the haze!! Or perhaps those damn power lines are responsible!! You know how those obstructions can alter one's view of a great shot!!






dude.. I love Porcupine Tree too! Nothin' like road trippin' with a little Tree on the stereo. I've only heard a little Ozric.. are they entirely instrumental?


Everything that I have of Ozric Tentacles is instrumental. And a little psychadelic!! Porcupine Tree changed the way I listened to music!! I actually discovered them by accident several years ago!! Steven Wilson is one of the most talented musicians I've ever come across. If I ever replace Peter Griffin as my avatar, it would be him!! BTW, if you haven't picked up PT's Nil Recurring, or Blackfield I or II, or No-Man, I suggest you do so!!

[TinChelseaNYC]

Classic American town. Great thread!

[Ex-Ithacan]

Better than I expected. I remember seeing some pics of Springfield, MO before, and thought it looked like a dated suburban office park. The lowrise commercial buildings add some density I didn't realize existed.

btw, heckofa long commercial building block:



And I agree that ped bridge over the rail yard = bonus.

Thanks for the tour kcex.

[denveraztec]

Woderful photos of what looks like a pleasant place!

[pdizzle]

I haven't been to Springfield since I was like 5. All I can remember is your giant Bass Pro Shop.

That old school Steak n Shake looks awesome.
As a side note, my housemate from the south finally went to a steak n shake near Cincinnati and said that he didn't care for their burgers or shakes. Who else thinks he should be hanged? I am biased being from IL and all, but come on, Steak n shake is the shit. There are none in Charleston, SC.

Is it bad that my last two replies involve food, or am I just hungry?

[alon504]

Great pics! One question---you say Springfield is the "Queen of the Ozarks," yet I see no mountains, anywhere, not even in the distance. I don't even see hills? Where are the Ozarks around Springfield?

[10101000]

Nice weather

[kcexpress69]

Originally Posted by alon504

Great pics! One question---you say Springfield is the "Queen of the Ozarks," yet I see no mountains, anywhere, not even in the distance. I don't even see hills? Where are the Ozarks around Springfield?

I had a feeling that when I was posting these, someone would have a comment on this!! Springfield is located on a plateau. The area is generally flat west of the city. North and east of the city, there are small foothills. However, about 15 miles south of Springfield, the highway suddenly drops. Kind of like a roller coaster!! You well into the Ozarks by the time you get to Branson (which regrettably I did not take pictures of).

Some other thoughts:

According to the 2007 pop. estimates, Springfield Mo. has officially taken over as the largest Springfield in the nation. While the population has remained stable at approximately 154,000, most of the growth is located in the south. Nixa and Ozark, two towns that had approx. 4000 in 1990, each now have approx. 20,000.

The highways encircle the city, which means that the traffic is murder!! However, there seems to be quite a lot of scooter traffic, especially close to MSU and Drury U. . Many streets and roads also include bike lanes.

[erasercut]

Originally Posted by pdizzle

I haven't been to Springfield since I was like 5. All I can remember is your giant Bass Pro Shop.

That old school Steak n Shake looks awesome.
As a side note, my housemate from the south finally went to a steak n shake near Cincinnati and said that he didn't care for their burgers or shakes. Who else thinks he should be hanged? I am biased being from IL and all, but come on, Steak n shake is the shit. There are none in Charleston, SC.

Is it bad that my last two replies involve food, or am I just hungry?

That old Steak n Shake should be put on some national historic registry. They remodeled all of them in St. Louis and made them really dull.

[LSyd]

looks like it could be a charmer, nice tour.

look at the "old" cars in this shot (15 years and still running now...)



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[wdunlap]

Little Rock from I-40, the powerlines photo.