Cherokee County, KS
Cherokee County is located in the territory that was part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. The area was then set out as the 'Neutral Lands" in a treaty with the Osage Indians in 1825. This 25 miles east- west by 50 miles north-south on the west of the Missouri border and east of the Osage Reservation was to be a buffer zone. Hunting, fishing, mineral extraction were allowed with no settlement of either white or Indians.When the Cherokee Nation was relocated to the west from Georgia in 1835 they wanted more land. The Federal Government purchased from the Osage this 800,000 acres which then became known as the "Cherokee Neutral Lands".
The Kansas Territorial Legislature included the area in the setting of boundaries of the state in 1855. The southern boundary was to be at the 37th parallel and the area was named McGee County in 1860. Upon Kansas Statehood, January 29,1861, the area was 24 miles west by 50 miles north with the name changed to Cherokee County.
During the Civil War the Cherokee Indians sided with the south and believing they had ownership of the land, sold it to the Confederacy for $250,000 in Confederacy money, plus providing two companies of soldiers. This was to present a great deal of conflict over the title to the land.
Explore Cherokee County
Baxter Springs Historical Museum
The Baxter Springs Historical Museum is filled with exhibits depicting the various stages of the city'
Baxter Springs, KS MuseumsFort Blair Site
Baxter Springs was a stopping place on the old Military Road serving Army forts which protected the preCivil War West from "hostile" Indians. It wasn't until 1862
Baxter Springs, KS FortsColumbus Wye and Frisco Caboose
The Columbus Wye is a one of its kind three way switch allowing trains to turn around. The crossing, formerly located in the northern part of Columbus was donated to the City of Columbus by the Burlington Northern Railroad. At the time the switch was constructed, it was one of the three built:
Columbus, KS Railroad HistoryRiverside Park
Riverside Park is located at the east edge of Baxter Springs on Spring River on the south side of Highway 166
Baxter Springs, KS RecreationTri-State Marker
See the Tri-State Marker and be in three states at once! The meeting point of Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri is 6 miles east of Baxter Springs on Highway 166/400. Turn south on the small paved road just west of the state line, and continue to the dead end. Built in 1938
Baxter Springs, KS Geographical MarkersBlack Dog Trail Marker
Located on the grounds of the Historical Museum, the marker commemorates the Black Dog Trail opened in 1803 by Chief Black Dog ( Manka - Chonka) and his band of Osage Indians who had a village nearby where springs once flowed freely.
Baxter Springs, KS Historical MarkersHistoric Walking Tour
Walk along the downtown sidewalks on both sides of Military Avenue. Posted on the store fronts of the historic buildings are framed accounts of the original occupants of each store, their dates, and sometimes an account of a particular historical event that took place at that spot.
Baxter Springs, KS ToursColumbus Museum
"A Town within a Town" A colorful look at the history of Columbus. The unique Village Street, made entirely of brick from the Columbus Metzger Brick & Tile Plant between 1880 and 1910, runs along models of early shops and businesses like the Music Shop, Doctor'
Columbus, KS MuseumsLittle League Baseball Museum
This museum displays many awards and memorabilia of local sports heroes such as Mickey Mantle and Hale Irwin and other stars a Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Bill Russell, and other.
Baxter Springs, KS MuseumsBig Brutus
One of the most unique day trips in Southeast Kansas is to Big Brutus, 11,000,000 pounds of fun! Big Brutus is the world's second largest electric mining shovel. Walk through its cavernous body, sit in the operators chair or climb 16
Columbus, KS One Of A KindsHistoric Bridges
* Rainbow Curve Bridge just north of town is the only remaining Marsh Arch bridge on Rt. 66. * The InterUrban Street Car Bridge spans the lazy banks of the Spring River.
Baxter Springs, KS Historic Bridges