Springfield, Missouri Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ==Culture== Like many cities across the nation, Springfield has seen a resurgence in its downtown area. Many of the older buildings have been, and are continuing to be, renovated into mixed-use buildings such as lofts, office space, restaurants, coffee shops, bars, boutiques, and music venues.{{Citation needed|reason=This is true, but difficult to find sources for|date=October 2023}} The Downtown Springfield [[Business Improvement District|Community Improvement District]] (CID) has historic theaters that have been restored to their original state, including the [[Gillioz Theatre]] and the [[Landers Theatre]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.itsalldowntowncid.com|title=Downtown Springfield Community Improvement District|access-date=October 7, 2023}}</ref> In 2001, Phase I of Jordan Valley Park opened along with the Jordan Valley Ice Park. 2001 also saw the opening of The Creamery Arts Center, a city-owned building inside Jordan Valley Park.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dnr.mo.gov/document-search/jordan-valley-park-success-story|title=Jordan Valley Park Success Story|website=Missouri Department of Natural Resources}}</ref> Phase II of Jordan Valley Park was completed in 2012. It provides office and meeting space for arts organizations which serve the community. The center has been renovated to include two art galleries with monthly exhibitions, an Arts Library, rehearsal studios, and classrooms offering art workshops and hands-on activities. The facilities also include an outdoor classroom. A March 2009 ''New York Times'' article<ref>{{cite news |last=Edge |first=John T. |title=Missouri Chinese: Two Cultures Claim This Chicken' |work=The New York Times |date=March 10, 2009 |access-date=January 4, 2024 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/11/dining/11cashew.html |url-access=subscription}}</ref> described the history and ascendancy of [[cashew chicken]] in Springfield, where local variations of the popular Chinese dish are ubiquitous. === Cultural organizations === [[File:Landers Theater Elevation 311 E Walnut.JPG|thumb|The [[Landers Theatre]]]] The Ozarks Lyric Opera (formerly the Springfield Regional Opera)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sbj.net/stories/springfield-regional-opera-rolling-out-name-change,74461|title=Springfield Regional Opera rolling out Name Change|website=Springfield Business Journal|date=June 4, 2021 |access-date=October 7, 2023}}</ref> has operated in the city for nearly 40 years. In its history, the opera has performed various well known shows, such as [[The Barber of Seville]], [[La bohème]] and [[Carmen]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ozarkslyricopera.com/past-seasons.html|title=Past Seasons|website=Ozarks Lyric Opera|access-date=October 7, 2023}}</ref> The Springfield Ballet was founded in 1978 as a [[Not-for-Profit|not-for-profit]] to bring [[ballet]] to the region. The first performance was held at the Springfield Art Museum in November 1976, and the first public performance in March 1977. The ballet currently performs at the [[Landers Theatre]] in downtown Springfield, and has performed with the Springfield Symphony for holiday programs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://springfieldballet.org/History|title=Springfield Ballet :: History|website=springfieldballet.org|access-date=February 20, 2019}}</ref> The [[Springfield Little Theatre]] was founded in 1934 and purchased the Landers Theatre in 1970 for its permanent performance venue. The theatre is the oldest civic theatre in Missouri and one of the oldest in the [[Midwestern United States|Midwest]], attended by 60,000 people yearly. The venue has been the setting for performances by actors such as [[Kathleen Turner]], [[Tess Harper]], and [[Lucas Grabeel]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.springfieldlittletheatre.org/about-slt/history/landers-theatre-history/|title=Landers Theatre History|website=Springfield Little Theatre|access-date=February 20, 2019|archive-date=February 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220122722/https://www.springfieldlittletheatre.org/about-slt/history/landers-theatre-history/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Springfield Symphony was founded in 1935 and is one of the oldest arts organizations in the city. The [[symphony]] was one of the founding members of the American Symphony Orchestra League, now known as the [[League of American Orchestras]], the largest international body for symphonies and orchestras. The symphony performs monthly at [[Juanita K. Hammons Hall]] on the [[Missouri State University]] campus.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.springfieldmosymphony.org/about-us|title=About Us {{!}} Springfield Symphony|website=www.springfieldmosymphony.org|access-date=February 20, 2019}}</ref> The Springfield Art Museum was started by a small group of women, headed by Deborah D. Weisel. Within two years of its original founding as an art study club, the museum had been formed and began showing [[travelling exhibition]]s from cities like [[New York City|New York]] and [[Philadelphia]]. In 1948, the museum was handed into the control of the city.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sgfmuseum.org/145/About|title=About {{!}} Springfield Art Museum, MO - Official Website|website=www.sgfmuseum.org|access-date=February 20, 2019}}</ref> In 2018, a 30-year plan was revealed with the intent of updating the museum to be comparable to the [[Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art]] in Kansas City and [[Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art]] in [[Northwest Arkansas]], capitalizing on its central location in the city and adjacent park space.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fox4kc.com/2018/10/13/springfield-art-museum-unveils-plan-to-turn-site-into-a-world-class-attraction/|title=Springfield Art Museum unveils plan to turn site into a world-class attraction|date=October 13, 2018|website=FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV {{!}} News, Weather, Sports|access-date=February 20, 2019}}</ref> The GLO Center is the LGBTQIA+ community center for Springfield and the Ozarks. Founded in 1996, it is the oldest operating LGBTQIA+ center in Missouri, and the only of its kind in southwest Missouri.<ref>{{Cite web |title=LGBTQ Community Center in Springfield {{!}} The GLO Center |url=https://www.glocenter.org/ |access-date=June 19, 2023 |website=www.glocenter.org |language=en-US}}</ref> OLGA, founded in 2003 is the Ozarks Lesbian and Gay History Archives. It is housed at the Missouri State University, Meyer Library, and has oral histories, collections, and records of lived experiences of the LGBTQ population of southwest Missouri and the Ozarks.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ozarks Lesbian and Gay Archives - Libraries - Missouri State |url=https://libraries.missouristate.edu/OLGA.htm |access-date=June 19, 2023 |website=libraries.missouristate.edu |language=en}}</ref> In 1938, a Springfield flag was made official. It resembled the flag of St. Louis (which was later replaced by a new flag). In 2017, the Springfield Flag Movement proposed a new flag for Springfield, arguing that the current flag is disconnected from modern Springfield culture, as it "doesn't speak to the unique history and identity of Springfield".<ref name=":3">{{cite web|date=June 5, 2021|title=Springfield Missouri Flag - Springfield Flag Movement|url=https://sgfflag.org/|access-date=August 9, 2021|language=en-US}}</ref> On January 10, 2022, Springfield's city council voted 7–2 in favor of adopting the Springfield Flag Movement's proposed flag as the official city flag. The new flag was officially adopted by the city on March 1, 2022.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ky3.com/2022/01/11/springfield-city-council-approves-new-city-flag/ |title=Springfield City Council approves new city flag |publisher=Ky3.com |date=January 10, 2022 |accessdate=March 4, 2022}}</ref> ===Events=== The Missouri Food Truck Festival brings [[food truck]]s from Springfield and surrounding states. Like most local events, it includes live music and specialty [[cuisine]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mofoodtruckfest.wordpress.com/|title=MO Food Truck Fest|website=MO Food Truck Fest|access-date=February 19, 2019}}</ref> First Friday is a monthly event held in downtown Springfield that allows local artists to show off their works and encourages people to stroll the streets and [[Art gallery|art galleries]] to look at local works of art. The event is sponsored by the Springfield Regional Arts Council and has been a regular event in the city since 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.417mag.com/events/first-friday-art-walk/|title=First Friday Art Walk|website=www.417mag.com|access-date=February 19, 2019}}</ref> [[File:ParkCentralSquarefountainbyCVBCS.jpg|thumb|Park Central Square in downtown Springfield has multiple annual festivals.]] Cider Days is a two-day event held on Walnut Street downtown featuring local artists showing their crafts, fall themed activities and performances by local groups, as well as [[cider]] sampling. Arts Fest is held in May also on Walnut Street downtown, and features similar art vendors showing crafts as well as entertainment for children.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.itsalldowntown.com/cider-days-walnut/|title=Cider Days on Walnut|website=It's All Downtown|access-date=February 19, 2019}}</ref> Since 2010, the city has hosted the annual Birthplace of [[Route 66]] Festival in the downtown area along the historic Route 66 and in Park Central Square. A parade starts the event with a collection of dozens of vintage cars traveling along the former highway. There are also live performances in Park Central Square as people move around St. Louis Street to observe [[classic car]]s and browse items from vendors selling artwork and literature about Route 66. The event also holds a 6.6 [[Kilometre|kilometer]] run. The 2018 festival lasted two days and was attended by 56,000 people.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.route66festivalsgf.com/|title=Birthplace of Route 66 Festival – Come see where it all started.|access-date=February 19, 2019}}</ref> The Japanese Fall Festival usually takes place in September at the Springfield Botanical Gardens in [[Nathanael Greene]] Park. The event is put on by the [[Sister Cities International|Sister Cities Association]] and commemorates [[Japanese Culture|Japanese culture]], often involving visitors from Springfield's sister city of [[Isesaki, Gunma|Isesaki]], offering [[Green tea|Japanese tea]], giving live performances and selling traditional items like [[Bonsai]] and [[kimono]] dresses. Springfield in turns sends local groups to Isesaki's city festival each year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.biz417.com/events/japanese-fall-festival/|title=Japanese Fall Festival|website=www.biz417.com|access-date=February 19, 2019}}</ref> Pridefest is an annual LGBTQ gathering, taking place every June, first organized in 1998. The GLO Center organises the event, as well as Pride in the Park, a yearly event in October.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ozarks Pridefest |url=https://ozarkspridefest.com/ |access-date=June 19, 2023 |website=ozarkspridefest.com |language=en-US}}</ref> Several holiday events take place in Springfield, including the yearly Downtown Christmas Parade showcasing local schools and businesses sponsoring [[Float (parade)|floats]]. There's also a yearly lighting of a [[Christmas tree]] at Park Central Square and the Festival of Lights in Jordan Valley Park. ===Points of interest=== {{See also|National Register of Historic Places in Springfield, Missouri}} {{Col-begin}} {{Col-1-of-2}} *Air & Military Museum of the Ozarks *[[American Civil War]] Library at [[Wilson's Creek National Battlefield]] *[[First Battle of Springfield|Battle of Springfield]] Driving Tour *Commercial Street Historic District *The Creamery Arts Center *[[Dickerson Park Zoo]] *[[Discovery Center of Springfield]] *Dr. Michael J. Clarke History Museum of Ozarks Scouting *Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center *Founders Park {{Col-2-of-2}} *Gray-Campbell Farmstead *History Museum on the Square *Missouri Institute of Natural Science - Riverbluff Cave *Springfield Art Museum *[[Springfield Greene County Library|Springfield-Greene County Library District]] *[[St. John's Episcopal Church (Springfield, Missouri)|St. John's Episcopal Church]] *[[Trail of Tears National Historic Trail]] *[[US Route 66]] marker *[[Wild Bill Hickok–Davis Tutt shootout]] site *[[Wonders of Wildlife Museum & Aquarium]] {{Col-end}} ===Sports=== Springfield hosts college teams from [[Missouri State University]] ([[NCAA Division I]]), [[Drury University]] ([[NCAA Division II]]), and [[Evangel University]] ([[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics|NAIA]]). [[Great Southern Bank Arena]] (capacity 11,000) opened in 2008 and hosted the [[Missouri State Bears and Lady Bears]] basketball teams, and the [[O'Reilly Family Event Center]], which opened in 2010, hosts the [[Drury Panthers]] men's and women's basketball teams. [[File:United States Army Corps of Engineers in Kansas (14710014375).jpg|thumb|[[Hammons Field]]]] The [[Springfield Cardinals]], the [[Double-A (baseball)|Double-A]] affiliate of the [[St. Louis Cardinals]], have played at [[Hammons Field]] in downtown Springfield since their inaugural season in 2005 after the team moved from [[El Paso Diablos|El Paso]]. There have been more than 100 Springfield Cardinals who have gone on to play for St. Louis.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/content/page.jsp?ymd=20081124&content_id=41102746&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_t440&sid=t440|title=FAQ's {{!}} Springfield Cardinals Content|website=Springfield Cardinals|access-date=March 10, 2019}}</ref> Springfield has had minor league teams dating back to 1905, and this city has hosted various exposition games. Springfield Rugby Football Club (SRFC) was established in 1983 and is a well-known rugby club in the [[Midwestern United States]]. SRFC plays in Division II of the Frontier Region of the Western Conference which runs teams for men, women and youth.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.springfieldrugby.com/page/show/1363590-about-srfc-rugby-and-some-history|title=About|website=Springfield Rugby Club, Missouri|access-date=March 10, 2019}}</ref> The [[PGA Tour|PGA]] sponsored [[Price Cutter Charity Championship]] is played at Highland Springs Country Club on the southeast side of Springfield every year. The event is sponsored by [[Dr Pepper]]. Since the event started in 1990, more than $14 million has been raised for local children's charities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pricecuttercc.org/history/|title=History|website=Price Cutter Charity Championship|access-date=March 10, 2019}}</ref> [[File:JQHArenaExterior.08.2010.jpg|thumb|[[JQH Arena]]]] Springfield has hosted various sporting events. Missouri State's campus in Springfield has hosted the Missouri [[Special Olympics]] several times. Springfield has also hosted the Show-Me Games and regularly hosts the Missouri Winter Games in the sports of [[racquetball]], [[trap shooting]], [[Swimming (sport)|swimming]], [[volleyball]] and [[gymnastics]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mowintergames.org/swimming|title=Swimming {{!}} Missouri Winter Games|website=missouriwintergames|access-date=March 10, 2019}}</ref> In 2019 and 2020, Springfield will the host of the [[NAIA Softball Championship]] [[World Series]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naia.org/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=211717982&DB_OEM_ID=27900|title=Softball World Series Heads to Springfield, Mo., in 2019 and 2020|website=NAIA.org|date=June 7, 2018|access-date=March 10, 2019}}</ref> Springfield has also been the host of the [[Missouri Valley Conference baseball tournament]], as well as finals for the [[Missouri Valley Conference]] in sports like tennis and volleyball.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mvc-sports.com/sports/2018/6/18/18CHAMPS.aspx|title=2018-19 Championships|website=mvc-sports.com|access-date=March 10, 2019}}</ref> As a city with a [[World TeamTennis]] team, the [[Springfield Lasers]], Springfield has hosted final games at [[Cooper Tennis Complex]]. The [[Missouri Sports Hall of Fame]] is located in the city. Opening in 1994, the hall of fame contains over four thousand sports related items and exhibits. Each year the hall inducts new members who have contributed to sports in the state of Missouri, including athletes, broadcasters, coaches, physical therapists, winning sports teams and [[Olympic Games|Olympic athletes]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mosportshalloffame.com/inductees1/|title=Missouri Sports Hall of Fame {{!}} Inductees|website=Missouri Sports Hall of Fame|access-date=March 10, 2019}}</ref> Beginning in 2003, Springfield was only one of thirteen cities in the United States to be a part of the [[US Olympic Committee]]'s Olympic Development Program.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.teamusa.org:443/About-the-USOC/Community/Partner-Programs/CODP|title=CODP|website=Team USA|access-date=March 10, 2019}}{{dead link|date=September 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> The goal of the program was to develop beginning athletes into elite athletes, with Springfield's program focusing on archery, hockey, tennis and volleyball. Despite the end of the Olympic program in all cities, the city maintains the program as the Community Sports Development Program sponsored by the Springfield Greene County Park Board.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parkboard.org/338/Community-Sports-Development-Program-CSD|title=Community Sports Development Program (CSDP) {{!}} Springfield-Greene County Park Board|website=www.parkboard.org|access-date=March 10, 2019}}</ref> On March 9, 2023, Springfield was announced as the first of four teams in [[The Arena League]], an indoor football league with its inaugural season in 2024. The [[Ozarks Lunkers]] hosts games at the [[Wilson Logistics Arena]] at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds. ====Sports teams==== {| class="wikitable" |- ! scope="col" | Club ! scope="col" | League ! scope="col" | Sport ! scope="col" | Venue ! scope="col" | Established ! scope="col" | Championships |- ! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal;text-align:left;" | [[Springfield Cardinals]] | [[Texas League]] | Baseball | [[Hammons Field]] | 2005 | 1 |- ! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal;text-align:left;" | [[Springfield Lasers]] | [[World TeamTennis|WTT]] | Team tennis | [[Cooper Tennis Complex]] | 1996 | 1 |- ! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal;text-align:left;" | [[Demize NPSL]] | [[National Premier Soccer League|NPSL]] | Soccer | Cooper Stadium | 2014 | 0 |- ! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal;text-align:left;" |[[Ozarks Lunkers]] | [[The Arena League]] | Arena Football | [[Wilson Logistics Arena]] | 2024 | 0 |} Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page