How a water source in Missouri helped give birth to Springfield, Route 66, and 200 years of American connection 

Water is a source of many things. For Springfield, Missouri—a city founded on a spring—water was the source of its growth, its prosperity, and even its name. 

Today, after two centuries of urban growth, it’s overbuilt by concrete and brick, and few living Springfieldians have ever seen it. But to locals hoping to find it, a plaque on the cornerstone of an old brick building on Water Street offers a clue to its location. 

When Campbell settled at the spring, he saw the potential for a prosperous future fed by the clean, clear water of this “bottomless well.” He had no idea his actions would found the town that would become “The Official Birthplace of Route 66.” 

As America honors The Mother Road’s 100th birthday with events throughout 2026, Springfield is celebrating its role as a hub of connection for the whole country.

Learn more about the Route 66 Centennial Kickoff Celebration in Springfield.

Connected by Water

Water was everything on the American frontier. When John Polk Campbell settled at the spring, he didn't just find water. He found a future. 

Word spread that at Campbell’s spring, the water was plentiful and the land was good. A settlement formed on its banks, which soon grew into a town. Throughout the 1800s, Springfield grew outward and upward, drawing people and commerce, becoming a crossroads for the region. 

The spring that fed the community’s thirst for growth kept flowing beneath the surface, invisible but essential, the quiet source of everything above it. From the spring itself to the many streams and rivers in the area, locals were connected by water. 

But times were changing, as they always do. And progress meant pavement.

“By the 1920s, the creek [was] boxed into a series of underground culverts and tunnels. Water Street was essentially rebuilt on top of this concrete box, leaving the original site of the natural well not only destroyed, but buried under layers of fill dirt, concrete, and pavement,” writes Brandon Broughton in his fascinating exploration of the spring’s history entitled The Bottomless Well of Water Street.

Americans were eager to explore the West, but traveling by water was slow and hard. Railroads would soon offer them another way to travel. But with the turn of the century, a newer and more individualized kind of transport captured the American imagination: the automobile. 

Connected by Roads

America's waterways may have been its first highways, but the age of the automobile changed that. The country needed new ways to move people and goods across the country. The paving of America had begun.

Functionally, roads were a gamechanger. Philosophically, too. Paved pathways allowed Americans to explore their country in new ways, at their own pace. It wasn’t long before the East had plenty of them. But the West was another story. It took hard work and coordination to build and connect roads.

On April 30, 1926, highway officials gathered in Springfield, MO. Their purpose was to name a new route of highways cobbled together to form a path to California. A famous telegraph was sent from these officials to the Bureau of Public Roads rejecting the name “Route 62” and establishing their preference for “Route 66” instead. The Bureau agreed, and a new era of cross-country connection was born.

Route 66 captured the American imagination, building on folks’ desire to explore the uncharted American West at their own pace, in their own way. It was an artery for transport and for social interaction.

In Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck famously described it this way: “66 is the mother road, the road of flight.” Others called it the Main Street of America. Whatever name folks used, it was something new and yet somehow familiar: a connector, a lifeline, a road that said this way to everyone who needed a direction.

Route 66 stretched from Chicago to Los Angeles, opening portions of America not previously accessible, connecting the West to the rest of the country. Springfield, MO, was an important stop along the way. 

The Main Street of America is an important part of Springfield’s history. The traffic brought prosperity, excitement, and celebrity to the Queen City of the Ozarks. It also brought a title no other city could lay claim to: “The Official Birthplace of Route 66.”

The Mother Road still runs through Springfield. On a map, you can trace its path through the city from east to west. In person, you can still drive it! Special signs along the way commemorate the road and its history.

As you pass through Springfield on Route 66, you’ll drive by all sorts of fascinating sights, including the newly renamed Route 66 Stadium (home to the Springfield Cardinals baseball team). Keep driving toward the square, and you’ll spot a tall brick building with “National Audio Company” painted on the side. 

In the heart of Springfield, nearly 200 years after its founding, one company is still connecting Americans…inspired by the spring that burbles beneath.

Connected by Music

In 1882, a grand brick building was constructed in downtown Springfield. It was built on Water Street, right above Campbell’s “bottomless well.” It has been the home of several local businesses, and today is the home of National Audio Company.

Artists and music labels around the world trust NAC with their recordings because they do something no one else can. National Audio Company is the last manufacturer in America of music-quality cassette tape. They’re the gold standard in their field.

Like the water source beneath them and the famous road that runs two blocks away, “The Great American Cassette Company” has been connecting Americans for years. It’s one of many icons along the path of Route 66 that you can still visit. And with analog music and cassettes experiencing a comeback, NAC intends to keep truckin’.

Route 66 connected Americans by road. NAC connects them through music. Both are American originals, built to last, rooted in the same city, drawing from the same deep tradition of craftsmanship and connection.

Still Flowing, Still Connecting

Route 66 just turned 100. Springfield is almost 200. But the spring predates them all. 

It’s still there, flowing and connecting, the quiet source of a Midwestern city, an iconic road, and 200 years of American connections. 

Since 1882, it’s been hiding beneath a nine-story brick building on Water Street. Since 1998, its burble has been blending with the whirr of machines making music at National Audio Company. Music that will spread from its source to entertain cassette lovers the world over.

Though the spring itself may be hidden in the basement of “The Great American Cassette Company,” it’s finally getting some love as part of a major revitalization effort in the city. You can learn more about how the city is restoring the area here: Renew Jordan Creek Project. 

From the spring itself to Route 66 to music, Springfield is proud of its place as a hub of connection for the whole country.

Connect with National Audio Co.

Curious about the spring, the plaque, the building, or NAC itself? 

Stop by National Audio Company just off of Route 66 at 309 E. Water Street to say hello to our friendly staff…and maybe even start your own music project. 

You'll be hearing more from NAC.

National Audio Company has been devoted to true sound reproduction since 1969. But ask the musicians, labels, and producers who work with NAC, and they'll tell you there's something else that sets this Springfield, Missouri, company apart. It's not just the quality of the audio. It's the character of the people. From major record labels to independent artists, NAC treats every customer with the same respect, attention to detail, and commitment to getting it right. There's no VIP tier. Just honest work and Midwest kindness. We talked to four NAC customers to understand what it's really like to work with the leading manufacturer of music-quality cassette tape in the world.  

The Midwestern Local: Justin Braunagel

Justin Braunagel has been part of Springfield's music scene since 2011. A guitarist, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist who plays in various punk and rock bands, Justin started working with NAC the way many local musicians do: he needed tapes made, and they happened to be in town. "I help run a local record label," Justin explains. "We primarily release tapes because they're the most cost-effective analog copy you can have." When he moved to Springfield, getting CDs and eventually cassettes made at NAC was an easy choice. "I lived close by, so I could come down, pick up my order, and actually talk to people. It's a pretty easy process." For independent musicians, the ability to walk into the facility, see the operation, and pick up the finished product is meaningful. "Putting an album together is a lot of work," Justin says. "The writing, the recording, the artwork, the money to put everything together. And then having it finally done, and then you hold it in your hands...that’s a special moment." In August 2018, Justin heard about an opening in the duplication department. He applied and got the job. Today, Justin is NAC's Head of Duplication. He's seen both sides of the business, as the musician holding his first demo tape, and as the person making sure every cassette meets NAC's standards. From that dual perspective, Justin's assessment is clear: "If you're serious about your music and you're looking to have something to sell to people, this is the place to get it made." He's heard the alternatives. "I've heard tapes duplicated at a place up in Canada, and there’s really no comparison. NAC is the highest-quality place in the world to get it done." But beyond the technical quality, what stands out to Justin, both as a former customer and current employee, is how NAC treats people. "We treat everybody the same," he emphasizes.  Whether you're Metallica or a local band pressing 50 tapes to sell at shows, you get the same process, the same care, the same expertise. That egalitarian approach is rare in any industry, but especially in manufacturing. For Justin, working at NAC means being plugged into the music world in two ways, both playing and producing. He listens to every album that comes through. He checks every tape. He follows up on every order. It's that level of attention to sound quality that defines the NAC experience.  

The Touring Vet: Kenny Snarzyk

Kenny Snarzyk has been making music in the heavy metal scene for 17 years. His band Fister has toured the US, Canada, the UK, and Europe. He's run two cassette labels. He's tried manufacturing tapes himself. So when Kenny says National Audio Company makes the best cassettes in the world, he's not blowing smoke. Kenny first worked with NAC about 10 years ago when his band needed tapes pressed. Later, when Fister got picked up by a label, Kenny told them: "You should get your tapes through National Audio Company." Cassettes fill a crucial need. "Vinyl's very expensive," Kenny notes. "The cassette is just a great way to have an affordable piece of physical media, especially for touring bands. Having a tape at the merch table is huge." A couple of years ago, Kenny and his wife Aleasha opened a screen printing shop in St. Louis called Possession Press. Last year, they expanded it into a record label as well. When they reached out to NAC for their first release, VP Phil Stepp offered to give them a tour of the facility. "Phil gave us a two-hour tour," Kenny recalls. "He gave me every detail. I even joked with them: 'Now I know how you make the perfect iron oxide tape!’” Kenny and Aleasha drove from St. Louis to Springfield expecting a modest operation. "I had no idea how big this building is," Kenny admits. But what impressed him most wasn't the size; it was how NAC treated them.  That level of service reflects something Kenny noticed about NAC immediately: they embody what he calls "Missouri charm." It’s a sort of good-natured kindness that permeates the area.  But Kenny and Aleasha didn't just fall in love with NAC's hospitality. They fell in love with the product. Kenny's experience with cassette manufacturing spans multiple continents. His band has releases from two different European record labels (one from Netherlands, one from France). The difference in quality was obvious. "We've had cassettes made in Europe that do not sound as good as National Audio Company cassettes," Kenny states flatly. "The quality is not there. It really isn't." For an audiophile and touring musician who's heard his music reproduced across every format and by manufacturers around the world, that's an extraordinary claim. But Kenny isn't exaggerating. He's stating what his ears have told him over 17 years of making and listening to music. "There is not a cassette manufacturer in the world that can match their quality," Kenny says with conviction. "They make the best product in their field in the world." The relationship between Possession Press and NAC works because it's built on mutual respect and shared values. It’s the kind of relationship that only happens when both parties genuinely care about the work and the people they're serving. For Kenny, NAC represents something larger than just cassette manufacturing. It's a connection to the music community, a commitment to craft, and a reminder that good people making good products with genuine care still exist. "We just immediately fell in love with that whole crew there," Kenny says. "We were even joking that if we lived in Springfield, we wouldn't even have our shop. We'd just work at NAC."  

The East Coast Insider: Arthur Nalis

Arthur Nalis is a self-professed music lover. It started early, collecting records and making cassettes, a passion that eventually pulled him toward New York City, where he's been a music insider since the 1980s.  Arthur built his career in distribution, accumulating 25 years of experience before landing at Sound Performance, a small but influential brokerage firm in Manhattan. From there, he can feel the rumble of the subway and the pulse of the music scene as he brokers deals for clients across America and Europe.  Sound Performance works with big labels, tastemakers, and hitmakers who want their music on cassette and vinyl, acting as a personalized production company that manages timelines, artist needs, and all the details in between.  For Arthur, the diversity of the work is part of the appeal. So is the staying power of the format. "Genres come and go, but cassettes stay," he says. "At the end of the day, people are looking for something tangible, something they can hold onto. They're supporting music by collecting." He trusts NAC to duplicate the music for many of the Sound Performance stable on cassette. They’ve developed a close relationship because he appreciates NAC’s clearsighted focus.  "National Audio doesn't get distracted," he says. "They're meat and potatoes. Their focus is audio quality and service. Knowing who you are and what you do well and then staying in your lane, that produces longevity." In an industry full of vendors who overpromise and underdeliver, that kind of consistency is rare and valuable. "NAC keeps it real," Arthur says. "They don't make promises they can't keep."  But what Arthur values most is the relationship. "They're like family," he says. "They're a partner we rely on." And the service is personal. "I know when I call, they'll answer." Working with Steve and Phil over the years has given him something he doesn't take for granted. "Over the years, I've met some great people. It's people like Steve and Phil that make it feel like it's part of a family. That shared passion is contagious, and when you talk to people who understand, it's cathartic."  

The West Coast Pro: James Rauschenberg

James Rauschenberg has been working with National Audio Company for nearly two decades. As the founder of Transylvanian Recordings in Oakland, California, he's completed roughly 300 cassette projects with NAC over the years.  "I've worked with every single cassette manufacturer in the Americas," James explains, "and there's only one that I really stick with." That experience gives James a perspective few others can claim. And he's made his choice clear. "My favorite thing about National Audio: despite the fact that they are the largest operation, they are the only ones at any given time I can pick up the phone and call them and talk to somebody," James says. "Their customer service is second to none." For James, accessibility matters. "Even though they have these big massive clients that work with them, they'll still answer the phone or respond to me...that's priceless." But customer service alone doesn't keep James coming back year after year, project after project. It's the combination of service and quality that sets NAC apart. "In over 300 projects, I can't think of any mistakes that have happened," James reflects. "They are just the best at what they do." The proof of that commitment came when James worked with another pressing plant and the customer service was so poor that he pulled all his projects and resubmitted them to NAC. "I ate the pressing costs from the other place and paid for it again, just to have it done correctly through National," he says.  He literally paid twice to get NAC quality. When people ask James for advice about cassette manufacturing, he's blunt: "I give them a full perspective of every single pressing plant. I'm like, if you want the best…stop dubbing your own cassette tapes at home. Stop giving yourself carpal tunnel folding J-cards and just let the pros at National Audio do it for you." He's sent countless labels and bands to NAC over the years. James trusts NAC completely. That trust is built on something concrete: sound quality.  "When they say they have ‘music quality tape,’ they actually can stand by that," James says. "Every other pressing plant on the planet does not have that ability. They manufacture the tape, and that is not available anywhere else. Everyone else is importing the tape that they load onto their cassettes. But perhaps the most striking validation of NAC's quality comes from James's international distribution partners. "One of my distributors and partners is in Australia," James says. "He has worked with them, and you know what he has me do? He has me order cassette tapes for him through National Audio and then send them to Australia so he doesn't have to work with them because the cassette tapes sound like crap out there." Let that sink in. An Australian distributor pays to have cassettes manufactured in Springfield, Missouri and shipped halfway around the world rather than use the cassette manufacturer in his own country. "National is just above and beyond," James says simply. "They are the gold standard."

The Common Thread

Four different customers. Four different paths to National Audio Company. With each, the message is clear: working with NAC is as good as it gets.  Indie bands producing their first demo tape and major labels ordering 200,000 more cassettes get the same expertise, respect, and commitment to true sound reproduction. That's just how NAC does business. And it's why musicians, labels, and producers of all kinds trust National Audio Company with their music. Contact National Audio Company today to start your project. You'll be hearing more from NAC.