Baxter Springs is of particular interest to travelers planning a trip because of three distinct themes: the history of Route 66, 19th-century local and military history, and fishing opportunities on the Spring River. Route 66 connections range from a former gas station to named road sections and preserved stretches of the route. If you are looking for accommodation in Baxter Springs, distinguishing between these themes can help you decide what you want your stay to focus on.
Route 66: Gas Station, Visitor Center, and Road Connections
The history of Route 66 in Baxter Springs encompasses both a building and its connections to the road. The Baxter Springs Independent Oil and Gas Service Station was originally built as a gas station in 1930 and now houses the Route 66 Visitor’s Center. This means the building has served as both a gas station and a visitor center. In 2003, the station was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The center shares the history of historic Route 66 with visitors from across the United States and other countries.
The road connections have their own distinct dates. Military Avenue in Baxter Springs became part of Route 66 in 1926. The Kansas Route 66 Historic Byway runs from the Kansas-Oklahoma border along K-66, also known as Military Avenue and U.S. 69Alt, to Baxter Springs. North of Baxter Springs, 3.2 miles of preserved Route 66 remain between Riverton and Baxter Springs. Comparing the Route 66 themes therefore means looking at different scales: a single building, named roads, and a specific preserved stretch of the route.
Local History Before and Alongside Route 66
The town’s history goes back further than these Route 66 connections. 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. Among the earliest people buried in the Baxter Springs Soldiers’ Lot are 132 Union soldiers and officers killed in the Battle of Baxter Springs on October 6, 1863. A monument commemorates those buried in the Baxter Springs City Soldiers’ Lot.
The dates put these themes in context: the 1863 battle predates the town’s founding in 1866; Route 66 history on Military Avenue begins in 1926, and the gas station was built in 1930. This makes it possible to distinguish the town’s earlier history from its later road development chronologically.
Fishing on the Spring River
On the Spring River, the focus shifts from road and local history to a specific recreational activity: the river offers fishing opportunities in Baxter Springs. If you do not want to plan your trip solely around cultural and road history, this is a separate option to consider. As you plan, you can compare whether Route 66, the town’s earlier history, or fishing on the river will play a bigger role in your stay.
For a broader travel overview: Cherokee County.
