From its humble beginnings in 1946 as a minor part of the Mission Board of Trade's Strawberry Festival, the Mission Soapbox Derby grew to be a major event eventually overshadowing the Strawberry Festival, attracting 20,000 people in 1956.







In 1974 due to a lack of interest and the withdrawal of a major sponsor the derby was canceled, and although there were many attempts to resurrect it, the derby was not re-established until 1999, a quarter of a century later.

Archive images courtesy of the Mission Community Archives

About the Museum - Soap Box Derby - General Tour
Local History - Teachers Corner