Cuba, MO—Missouri’s Official Mural City

Many towns and cities along Route 66 boast some types of murals. But only one of them is officially dubbed the Mural City.

That would be Cuba, MO.

This small city of a bit over 3,000 residents sits in Crawford County, some 85 miles southwest from St. Louis. Since the early days of the Mother Road, it has served as a pit stop for travelers on two, four, and… However many wheels there are on a train.

But why does it share its name with the Caribbean island?

Well, Cuba was platted in 1857 when it was confirmed that the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway would go through the site of the future town. The railroad arrived a year later and the farming community of Cuba popped up to serve as a rest stop.