Baxter Springs Vintage Gas Station: Baxter Springs, Kansas
You may be wondering why we’re sending you to a gas station. Well, even though the length of Route 66 in Kansas is only about 13 miles, it has many unique attractions.
The road passes through the state’s southeastern corner, and one of the can’t-miss attractions includes the Baxter Springs Kansas Route 66 Visitor Center. This Visitor Center is located inside of a vintage Phillips gas station and is iconic in the area.
The gas station was constructed in the 1930s and has striking Tudor cottage-style architecture with a lively red roof. It’s still exceptionally well-preserved and a charming place to visit.
You’ll even find it on the National Register of Historic Places, which has been converted into a museum. Visitors can see two vintage-style Phillips 66 gas pumps outside the historic building.
It’s fun to see their unique design and bright colors, and inside you’ll be greeted by messages and signatures of thousands of Route 66 travelers. There’s also a gift shop where you can buy many souvenirs.
6 thoughts on “Route 66: 8 Incredible Sights You Can’t Miss”
You missed the Wigwams in Holbrook,Az. And Meteor Crater out of Winslow.
Very interesting, and well worth the time and detours, to see some of older historic America.
ive been on every mile of old route 66 as my family moved to california from northern indiana well before I55 on I40 were started
I traveled Route 66 every summer of my life from age 12 (1949) with my Mom, Viola, and brother Tom Roberts and our dog Bootsie. We slept in inexpensive motels and an old hotel in Albuquerque, price $10 per night! What a great learning experience for us all!! We had a great fun 3 month trip, stayed in Los Cruses at the bottom of New Mexico, drove up to Santa Fe and stayed in Adobe huts. We called my Dad everynight to tell him where we landed.
We went to Indian festivals and had some very interesting experiences. One day we visited a Pueblo reservation, many Indians lived there. My Mom pointed her little Brownie Hawkeye at the old Indian chief to take his picture and he started chasing us, yelling at all the other Indians to chase us. We RAN for our 1949 Pontiac!! jumped in and took off. We found out he thought the camera would steal his soul! He was probably born in the 1890’s!
We drove over that bridge in our 1949 Pontiac, in 1949! We drove Route 66 every summer for 4 years. What fabulous memories.
My mom, grandma, sister and I traveled route 66 from Chicago to Monrovia, CA in 1943 when my dad was in the Army, stationed at Santa Anita race track in Pasadena, at that time an Army supply depot. My fondest memories of that trip are of lunches in little Route 66 cafes, where I would always eat a hamburger, along with a chocolate milk shake. Great memories still (at 87).