The third state on the route, Kansas, is a small part of the Route 66 states, spanning only about 20 km through the southeastern corner of the state. However, there are still plenty of attractions to see along this stretch.
Immediately after crossing the state border, we arrived in the town of Galena, which is Kansas’ oldest mining town and was one of the most significant cities west of New York at the turn of the 20th century due to the large mines that brought prosperity to the city. You can learn about its history at the Galena Mining & Historical Museum.
In addition to the museum, Galena offers a few other interesting sights. One of the most famous is Cars on the Route 66, where in the courtyard of an old gas station now serving as a restaurant, you’ll find cars modified in the style of the movie “Cars,” including Mater and Lightning McQueen. Apparently, one of these cars served as the actual inspiration for a character in the film.
Our godson is a huge fan of the “Cars” movie, so these cars are familiar, and we had to see them here too.
Along the Kansas stretch of Route 66, you’ll also find Nelson’s Old Riverton Store, one of the oldest still-operating stores on Route 66, and the historic Rainbow Bridge, adorned with painted Route 66 logos on the pavement. You’ll encounter several other Route 66-themed signs along the way.
Just at the border between Kansas and Oklahoma lies the town of Baxter Springs, where you’ll find old murals, the Route 66 Visitor Center housed in an old gas station, and a museum featuring exhibitions related to Native American history and the American Civil War.
Kansas’ portion of Route 66 may be short, but it offers quite a lot of interesting sights for the journey.
