Route 66 on a Larger and Smaller Scale

Nearly 14 miles of historic Route 66 ran through Cherokee County. The road served as an east-west connection; the county figure indicates the extent of its historic route here. A more narrowly defined view is offered by the historic Kansas Route 66 Historic District—North Baxter Springs: This section covers 2.1 miles of a rural part of the original route between the bridge over Brush Creek and the bridge over Willow Creek. The two lengths describe different scales: the Route 66 route through the county and a specific rural section with named endpoints. This contrast makes the route legible both as a regional connection and as a specific historic landscape.

Civil War History and Byways

Fort Blair is located on the Kansas’ Historic Route 66 Byway and the Frontier Military Historic Byway. The historic site can thus be understood in relation to two named byways. At the Baxter Springs Heritage Center, the focus is on events of the American Civil War: The center houses an extensive collection of Civil War artifacts and provides detailed information about events in Baxter Springs and at Fort Blair. The collection and historical context complement each other: material evidence is presented alongside accounts of specific places and events.

A 23-minute film describes and interprets the events of October 6, 1863. If you would like to watch the film during your visit, check its availability in advance. A self-guided driving tour has also been developed to cover the Civil War events, with roadside signs and an accompanying map and brochure. The film and tour use different formats: a cinematic account with a defined duration and a self-guided format with written materials to help you find your way.

Limestone Scenery and Shoal Creek

Schermerhorn Cave is one of several Mississippian limestone caves in Cherokee County. In Schermerhorn Park, a wooded trail passes limestone bluffs with lush Ozark vegetation and leads back to Schermerhorn Cave. The cave, rock formations and vegetation showcase different aspects of this landscape. The park illustrates the geological region of the Ozark Plateau, which covers 55 square miles in the far southeast of Kansas.

The Southeast Kansas Nature Center sits on a rise in Schermerhorn Park and overlooks Shoal Creek. The 32-acre Shoal Creek Wildlife Area extends along both sides of the creek; its landscape features include wooded hills, streams, moist limestone crevices and caves. Shoal Creek is thus both a feature in the view from the Nature Center and part of a landscape with waterways and limestone features.

A roughly 400-meter stretch of Shoal Creek in the Shoal Creek Wildlife Area is open for fishing. If you plan to fish, check the applicable regulations and conditions before your visit. This brings together the geological and landscape perspective with a specific opportunity to spend time by the water.

Discover more destinations: Baxter Springs, Finney, Stevens County, Wabaunsee County, Scott County, Allen, Riley County, Barton County.

For the broader travel overview: Kansas.