Cherokee County: Route 66, Mining History and Ozark Nature

Cherokee County offers several ways to explore its history and landscape: museums focus on mining and the American Civil War, while Schermerhorn Park and the Shoal Creek Wildlife Area offer a glimpse of the Ozarks. Historic Route 66 is also part of the region’s character. Which of these themes shapes your trip can help guide your plans for your stay.

Museums of Mining and Local History

Big Brutus is now a museum honoring the mining heritage of southeastern Kansas and the history of coal mining in the region. The museum and gift shop also share the history and technology of the Big Brutus power shovel. The regional history of coal mining and the machine’s engineering history come together here.

The Galena Mining & Historical Museum is located in a former KATY depot. The building was constructed in 1904 and moved to its current location in 1984. Its former use as a depot and its later relocation give the museum visit a distinctive historical setting.

Extensive artifact collections at the Baxter Springs Heritage Center tell the story of the American Civil War; the center also provides detailed information about events in Baxter Springs and at Fort Blair. A 23-minute film describes and interprets the events of October 6, 1863. Ask before your visit whether the film will be shown. A self-guided driving tour has also been developed to explore Civil War events, with roadside signs and an accompanying map and brochure.

Route 66 and Historical Orientation

Nearly 14 miles of Route 66 ran through Cherokee County. The Kansas Route 66 Historic District—North Baxter Springs describes a specific rural section: it covers 2.1 miles of the original route between the bridge over Brush Creek and the bridge over Willow Creek. The countywide figure and the length of this historic section show Route 66 at different scales. Fort Blair is located on the Kansas' Historic Route 66 Byway and the Frontier Military Historic Byway.

Ozark Scenery Along Shoal Creek

Schermerhorn Park illustrates the 55-square-mile geological region of the Ozark Plateau in the far southeastern corner of Kansas. The Southeast Kansas Nature Center is located on a rise in the park overlooking Shoal Creek. The elevated location above the creek and the park’s geological setting offer two different perspectives on the landscape.

The 32-acre Shoal Creek Wildlife Area stretches along both sides of Shoal Creek. Its features include wooded hills, streams, wet limestone crevices and caves typical of the Ozarks. A section of Shoal Creek about 400 meters long is also available for fishing in the area; regulations and conditions may change, so it is advisable to check before fishing.

A wooded trail in Schermerhorn Park passes limestone bluffs and lush Ozark vegetation on its way back to Schermerhorn Cave. The cave is one of several Mississippian limestone caves in Cherokee County. It also gives the trail through the Ozark landscape a geological connection.

Highlights for Your Stay

To plan your trip, you can first decide whether mining history, the Civil War and Route 66—or instead the landscape, cave and Shoal Creek—will be your focus. If you’re looking for a hotel for your trip, compare the property’s specific location with the places you plan to visit. If you plan to see the museum film, check whether it will be shown, and observe the current conditions when fishing.

Explore more destinations: Baxter Springs, Scott County, Butler, Ness County, Harvey County, Ford County, Cloud County, Miami.

For the main travel overview: Kansas.