Remove Ads
4.4
17 votes

Rainbow Bridge

Rainbow Bridge SE Beasley Rd, Baxter Springs, Kansas 66713 USA

Free
Free to Visit
Open Now
Thu 12a-11:59p
  • Independent
  • No Public
    Restrooms
  • No Wifi
Add to Trip
Remove Ads

“route 66's only surviving rainbow bridge”

The Rainbow Bridge is an old bridge over Brush Creek approximately two miles west of Riverton, Kansas on former U.S. Route 66 (US-66), now a county road. The bridge is a single-span concrete Marsh arch bridge and is the sole surviving bridge of this type on the entire length of the former highway. Two other Marsh arch bridges were also located on US-66 in Kansas, both over the Spring River. It was built in 1923. The bridge has often been covered with graffiti, but was recently re-painted white. The bridge has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places (as the Brush Creek Bridge) on March 10, 1983, due to its connection with US-66 and is also a Kansas state landmark. In 2014, Kansas Rt. 66 Historic Byway nominated a bypassed 2.1 miles (3.4 km) section of original 1926 highway, which ran south from the Brush Creek to the Willow Creek bridge near Baxter Springs, for an NRHP listing. The bridge is fairly narrow, and due to traffic on the road, a replacement bridge has been built. The road curves toward the new bridge toward Baxter Springs, but a short, one-way road carries traffic to the Rainbow Bridge, which may still be crossed. This was part of a compromise after a disagreement between the county and the Kansas Route 66 Association as federal funds used for construction of the new bridge required demolition of the old. The bridge had been listed with the National Register, which prohibited condemnation of the old bridge. In the year 2000, country singer Brad Paisley performed "Route 66" on the bridge for the TLC special, "Route 66: Main Street America".

Read More >
Add Review
Thanks!
Your Rating
1
2
3
4
5

Reviewed by
Afan

  • 9 Reviews
  • 4 Helpful
August 27, 2017
Rated

Marsh Rainbow Arch Brdge is marked on the wrong location. The bridge is n Kansas, 37.073599, -94.740714, next to Riverton ,KS

2 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by
marnyrachel

  • 37 Reviews
  • 17 Helpful
August 16, 2018
Rated

This is a really cute Route 66 town and worth the detour on 44 - the bridge is not in the right location but there are soda fountains in town and a cute 66 gas station for photo ops - and a REALLY COOL metal Kansas 66 sign really close...

Was this helpful?

Reviewed by
Afan

  • 9 Reviews
  • 4 Helpful
August 27, 2017
Rated

https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/route66/brush_creek_bridge_cherokee_county.html

Was this helpful?

Reviewed by
Christa

  • 1 Review
  • 0 Helpful
July 25, 2016
Rated 4.0

Nice bridge with a lot of history.

Was this helpful?

Be the first to add a review to the Rainbow Bridge.

Rainbow Bridge

Rainbow Bridge SE Beasley Rd
Baxter Springs, Kansas
66713 USA
Remove Ads

Hours

Open 24 hours today
  • Sun - Sat: 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Problem with this listing? Let us know.

Has RV parking changed? Let us know.

Remove Ads
  • Unavailable
    Parking
  • Unknown
    Pets Allowed
  • Unavailable
    Restrooms
  • Unavailable
    Wifi
  • Unknown
    Wheelchair Accessible
  • Unknown
    Credit Cards Accepted
See More Details (4)
Remove Ads

Nearby Hotels

Miami, Oklahoma
FastBook
$$

Click to discover a
great deal!

Joplin, Missouri
FastBook
$

Click to discover a
great deal!

Miami, Oklahoma
Joplin, Missouri
Joplin, Missouri
Remove Ads

Related Trip Guides

Remove Ads
13738030