Heritage Center and Museum

740 East Ave., Baxter Springs, KS
Phone:

East < GO > West

The Baxter Springs Heritage Center & Museums is just diagonally across the intersection from the Fort Blair SW corner of the block. It offers something for everyone. Their exhibits shows the various stages of life in Baxter Springs from the Osage Indian, Civil War, Cowtown and the mining eras. It has 20,000 feet of exhibits on two floors. You can easily spend a couple of hours touring the place. It is open 10-4:30 Tues-Sat and 1-4 on Sundays.

There are various items of interest located on the museum's grounds:

A historic plaque honoring the Black Dog Trail. The Historic Osage Black Dog Trail is located on the north side of the museum grounds Which was the site of the Osage camping grounds near the big spring. The plaque reads:

BLACK DOG TRAIL
Opened in 1803
by Chief Black Dog
(Mabka~Chronka)
and his
band of Osage Indians
who had a village nearby
where springs once flowed freely.

Placed by
Kansas Society, Daughters of the American Colonists
Centennial Year 1961 Project

This U.S Army M-60 tank was used during the Korean War.

Frisco Caboose - This caboose is a restored Frisco #1709/BN 11684 that was built in 1973

There is a small historic bridge bridge, the sign tells its story:

This small bridge
is the last of its kind in
Cherokee County. Given to
The Historical Society by
The county commissioners.
It was moved to this site
in 1994 from the northwest
corner of the county.
5.) A small playground as part of the picnic area.

There's even a small playground area for the kids.

This 1870s Log Cabin was donated to the museum and moved to this location. The wooden shingles needed help and new ones were hewn from trees cut down near its original location.

Photo(s): 2016