Streetcars in Springfield, MO

The streetcar makes its mark.

Mules were the first form of power for a popular means of transportation which was available for over 50 years in Springfield . . . the streetcar. The first mule-driven car was put into service in 1881 running up Boonville Avenue from the Square to Commercial Street and the Frisco Depot.

Springfield was one of the first cities in the nation to have electric trolleys, with the first such cars appearing in 1887.

The system quickly spread with lines going to many different parts of town including the Springfield Normal School and Doling Park. Riding the streetcar became not only a convenience but a form of entertainment.

The last streetcar ran in 1937.

The early mule-drawn streetcars joined the Public Square with Commercial Street.

Eventually, much of the central part of the city was covered by streetcar tracks.

Electric streetcars began appearing in Springfield in 1887 and were among the first in the nation.

An early conductor and his car in the barns.

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