Route 66 Baxter Springs

It’s the last stop on Route 66 in Kansas – or the first one, depending on which direction you are traveling. Known as the “First Cow Town in Kansas” (which I learned both from the museum and from talking to locals), and for being the birthplace of waterjet cutting (which I learned from signs posted in town), Baxter Springs packs a lot of history and character into its 3 square miles.

Here are the highlights of Route 66 in Baxter Springs (along with a few off-the-Route attractions).

Marsh Arch Bridge

Also known as the Rainbow Bridge, this 130-foot concrete bridge is located 3.4 miles north of Baxter Springs. Spanning Brush Creek, Marsh Arch Bridge was built in 1923 to connect Galena, Riverton, and Baxter Springs, and was named after James B. Marsh, who was a pioneer in steel and concrete bridge construction.

The bridge was in constant use from 1926 to 1960, and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. Although there’s a modern highway nearby that carries the bulk of the traffic between the surrouding southeast Kansas towns, you can still drive – or walk – across this iconic bridge.

Field of Dreams (8933 SE 50th Street)

Route 66 and baseball – add some apple pie and you’d have the all-American experience (well, at least the 1950s’ one). Just past the Marsh Arch Bridge is the Field of Dreams, which was the vision of Don Karnes, a coach who began the baseball program at the high school in 1981. Karnes’ dream was for small-town Baxter Springs’ baseball and softball teams to have a complex of their own instead of having to travel miles to practice and play.

In 1999, Karnes donated 12 acres of his property, and along with his wife, as well as Gene and Linda Leonhard, he established a non-profit corporation which has built this sports facility debt-free through fundraising and donations. In August 2014, the corporation deeded the complex to USD #508, with the school district taking possession in 2017.

Karnes’ sage advice, which is etched in a plaque outside of the sports park, is this: “The thing is, don’t quit! Keep planning and working and you’ll be a winner in the end.” What an inspiration to the athletes who read these words as they walk into the park to pursue their own dreams.

Baxter Springs Heritage Center and Museum (740 East Avenue)

A massacre, robberies, spas (what?), mining, Route 66: There’s so much information and so many artifacts packed into this building that I wrote a separate post solely about this museum, which you can read about here.

Fort Blair Site/John Baxter Homestead (198 E. 6th Street)

At the museum, pick up a brochure for the self-guided auto tour of the Civil War sites in Baxter and it will lead you through the events of October 6, 1863, when Fort Blair was attacked by William Quantrill and 400 guerillas.

The log structure at this site is a replication of the blockhouse, which was located in the center of the encampment and was built for the purpose of storing equipment and supplies. After the attack, it was used as an infirmary.

Fourteen years before the attack, this was the site of the John Baxter homestead. Baxter moved from Newton County, Missouri, to this land in 1849, and was the area’s first white settler. He operated a nearby inn and a general store known as “Baxter’s Place.” Tragically, he was shot to death in 1860 in a property dispute.

HISTORIC DOWNTOWN BAXTER SPRINGS

Baxter Springs 66 Station Welcome Center (940 Military Avenue)

This Tudor Revival style gas station was built in 1930 by the Independent Oil and Gas Company and then purchased by Phillips 66 Petroleum Company that same year. In the 1940s, it was modified into an L-shape. It functioned as a service station through the 1970s, and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.

Inside, there’s a variety of information about Route 66 attractions, as well as souvenirs. Click here for more information.

Don’t forget to sign a brick when you visit! Look at the photo above; can you see where I signed mine? Hint: Look in the lower left corner.

That’s right, I signed a brick in such a hard-to-reach spot that this was the best penmanship I could offer.

Cow Town Mural (Northwest Corner of 11th and Military Avenue)

This mural pays homage to the Baxter Springs’ status as the “First Cow Town in Kansas.”

Cafe on the Route (Southwest Corner of 11th and Military Avenue)

Baxter Springs Frieze (Southwest Corner of 12th and Military)

Head south from Angels on the Route towards the modern American Bank building. Trust me here, because it’s worth the detour. On the south side of the building where the drive-through lanes are, there’s a detailed frieze which artist Paula Collins sculpted out of terra cotta clay.

It’s a stunning depiction of the history of Baxter Springs, and it also makes a great backdrop for photos.

Junk & Jill (1144 Military Avenue)

Okay, bear with me again as I have you travel north now (you need to get back to your car anyway, right?). On the east side of the street is a yummy store called the Junk & Jill.

The store carries an eclectic mix of vintage and boutique items, including clothing and personal care products.

Soda Fountain (1128 Military Avenue)

With its retro neon sign outside and soda fountain setup inside, this building appears to be a Route 66 sojourner’s dream. Alas, the building is not open to the public.

This is the Bill Abernathy Memorial Center for Lifetime Learning, so if you’re not a Kansas resident utilizing the services of the center, all you can do is press your face against the glass and imagine that you’re sipping a cherry cola at the fountain counter inside.

OFF THE ROUTE

If you have the time and the desire to wander off the Mother Road, here are some worthwhile stops in Baxter Springs:

Johnston Library (210 W. 10th Street)

This historic building was built in 1872 to serve as the Cherokee County Courthouse, but that never came to be once Baxter Springs lost its bid to become the county seat.

The building was then used as a business college, then an opera house before the library was established here in 1905. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Baxter Springs City Cemetery Soldiers’ Lot (US 166 West, 2 miles west of the intersection of Military Avenue/US 69)

This cemetery is where 132 Union soldiers killed in the 1863 Battle of Baxter Springs are buried. In the center, there’s a monument with the names of all of the Union soldiers who fought in the 1863 battle; near the monument are four 24-pound cannons dating back to 1853.

Rial A. Niles Home (12th and Cherokee Avenue)

If you plan on continuing to Oklahoma on Route 66, you’ll need to head back to downtown Baxter Springs anyway, so don’t curse me out so much when I send you just a scooch east past Military/Route 66 in order to see some of the beautiful 19th century residences just off of 12th Street.

One home in particular intrigued me even before I learned the history of it when I was at the museum. The Rial A. Niles home, with a unique cupola in the center, is an Italianate style home built in 1870 for Niles, who was a partner in the Cherokee Bank.

While it appears to be in need of a little TLC now, it sure was a beauty back in the day.

One thing I have learned after exploring Baxter Springs is that this town may appear quiet at first glance, but its streets and its buildings are shouting with history and character.

Onward to Oklahoma!

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This article was commissioned by the Joplin CVB, however the opinions expressed are purely my own. The purpose of Joplin MO Life is to highlight all the best that our area has to offer, and when an article is written about a restaurant, business, attraction, or event, it is because I have had an enjoyable experience and want to share it with others.

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Living Life to The Fullest!

I love seeking out new experiences and finding places off the beaten path. I started Joplin MO Life in August 2013 as a way to share my discoveries with others in the Joplin community so that they can learn about the resources that exist right in their own backyards.

I have worked in education and event planning, and have always loved to write. I hold a master's degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma and a bachelor's degree in marketing from Tulane University.