Plan A Trip To Baxter Springs, One Of Kansas' Most Charming Historic Towns
By Liz Oliver|Published October 30, 2020
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Liz Oliver
Author
Liz is a Missouri native with a B.A. in English from Mizzou and a M.A. in Non-Profit Administration from Lindenwood University. She works for a STL metro-area community college and enjoys writing, traveling, and indoor cycling. Her true passion is forcing her encyclopedic knowledge of Missouri facts on uninterested strangers from across the globe!
You can still get your kicks along Route 66 when you visit Baxter Springs, Kansas. This historic town is more than 150 years old and is well known for its Route 66 past. Today visitors from across the globe come to Baxter Springs every year to drive the historic route. Come relive the glory days of the Mother Road with a day trip to Baxter Springs for history, diners, drives, and so much more!
The area of Baxter Springs, Kansas has been inhabited by indigenous peoples since the early 1700s. The town was incorporated in 1868. It's notably the site of the Battle of Baxter Springs, a minor Civil War battle fought on Oct. 6th, 1863.
Today, Baxter Springs is most known for being located along Route 66. People love to cruise this historic highway and Baxter Springs has some very notable stops.
The Rainbow Bridge is a top destination for Route 66 enthusiasts and architecture lovers alike. It's the last Route 66 bridge designed by the renowned engineer James Barney Marsh.
Rainbow Bridge was constructed in 1923. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. The bridge is still accessible by car even though a newer bridge also runs over Brush Creek.
In town. you'll want to stop at the Route 66 Visitor's Center. Built in 1930, the gas station was originally owned by the Independent Oil and Gas Company. In 2003, it was placed on the National Register of Historic places and opened to the public as a Visitor's Center in 2005. It's open seasonally from March through November.
While traveling through Baxter Springs you may notice hot-rods and classic cars lining the street in front of the Decades of Wheels Museum. Visitors can check out classic and vintage cars along with vehicles from popular shows and movies.
Red Ball may look a little rough around the edges but this local gem will delight your tastebuds. Stop by for lunch or dinner Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m.
Before heading home, stop by the Baxter Springs Heritage Museum to better understand the complex history of the area. This museum has exhibits on the town's Civil War History, replicas of old shops, and much more. Best of all, admission is free!
Have you been to Baxter Springs, Kansas? Did you go for the Route 66 history? Tell us all about your experience visiting Baxter Springs in the comments.
Looking for a great foodie road trip destination in Kansas? Here are seven delicious reasons why you should take your next road trip to Dodge City, Kansas.
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