1. Galena – Oldest Mining Town in Southeast Kansas

✅ Galena Mining & Historical Museum

  • Housed in the old Missouri-Kansas-Texas train depot, this museum is loaded with mining artifacts, old photos, and Route 66 memorabilia.

  • Great for understanding the area’s lead and zinc mining boom and how it shaped the town.

✅ Cars on the Route (formerly Kan-O-Tex Service Station)

  • A restored 1934 gas station that inspired Pixar’s "Cars". You’ll find the real-life “Tow Tater” here—Lightning McQueen’s buddy Tow Mater was based on it!

  • The station is part roadside attraction, part preservation project, and packed with Route 66 vibes.

2. Riverton – Classic Roadside Stop

✅ Eisler Brothers Old Riverton Store (opened in 1925)

  • One of the oldest continuously operating Route 66 stores. You’ll find old maps, postcards, and locally-made goods.

  • The backroom has a small historical display, and the staff are usually full of stories about the road.

  • Bonus: This store was a meeting place for Route 66 advocates who helped save and preserve it.

3. Rainbow Bridge (Brush Creek Bridge) – Baxter Springs

✅ Historic Rainbow Arch Bridge (1923)

  • The only remaining Marsh arch bridge on the entire route!

  • It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Stop for photos, or even walk it to take in the craftsmanship and old engineering charm.

4. Baxter Springs – Civil War Meets Route 66

✅ Baxter Springs Heritage Center & Museum

  • Huge collection of Civil War artifacts (Jesse James-related stuff too), Native American history, and a room dedicated to Route 66.

  • Learn about the Baxter Springs Massacre and the town’s connection to Confederate guerrilla raids.

✅ Baxter Springs Independent Oil and Gas Service Station (circa 1930)

  • Beautifully restored stone gas station that now functions as a Route 66 Visitor Center.

  • Great place for maps, brochures, and a chat with passionate locals about the town’s role in the road’s heyday.

Extra Touch for History Buffs

🛣️ Look out for Historic Route 66 road signs and old pavement remnants. The Kansas stretch was well-preserved and restored thanks to local Route 66 preservationists.