Baxter Springs: Route 66 and History

Baxter Springs combines Route 66 with local Civil War history and opportunities for fishing on the Spring River. If you’re looking for a hotel for your trip, this mix can help you decide which aspect you’d like to focus on during your stay. The town’s history spans several periods: the 1863 battle, its founding in 1866, and its later connection with Route 66. There are also various local points of interest—a former gas station building now used as a visitor center, historic roads, and massacre sites.

Route 66: Gas Station Building and Visitor Center

The Baxter Springs Independent Oil and Gas Service Station now houses the Route 66 Visitor Center. The building was originally constructed as a gas station in 1930; in 2003, the station was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Historic Roads Around Baxter Springs

Military Avenue became part of Route 66 in 1926. The Kansas Route 66 Historic Byway runs from the Kansas–Oklahoma border via K-66 to Baxter Springs; K-66 is also known as Military Avenue and U.S. 69Alt. North of Baxter Springs, 3.2 miles of preserved Route 66 remain between Riverton and Baxter Springs. Together, the former gas station, the road, and the preserved sections help place Route 66 in context.

Civil War History and Soldiers’ Lot

Baxter Springs was founded in 1866 along the Fort Leavenworth-Fort Gibson military road. The sites of the Baxter Springs Massacre are in present-day Baxter Springs; the battle took place on October 6, 1863. Among the earliest people buried in the Baxter Springs Soldiers’ Lot are 132 Union soldiers and officers who were killed in the battle that day. A monument commemorates those buried in the Baxter Springs City Soldiers’ Lot. The chronology helps distinguish these local sites: the fighting in 1863 predates the town’s founding in 1866. The battle sites and the Soldiers’ Lot also represent different aspects—the former relate to the event, while the latter is associated with those buried there and the monument.

Another Reason to Visit: the Spring River

The Spring River offers opportunities for fishing in Baxter Springs. This adds a different activity to the historical themes: while the visitor center, roads, and sites are connected with history, fishing on the river is the focus here. To decide whether Baxter Springs is right for your trip, you can consider these attractions separately. Route 66 connections link buildings and roads, the Civil War history stretches from the battle sites to the Soldiers’ Lot, and the Spring River offers an activity outside this historical narrative. Knowing which of these aspects matters to you can help you decide whether Baxter Springs is the right destination for your stay.

For the broader travel overview: Cherokee County.