Once across the Missouri line, it almost seems as if you've entered another world, and indeed, you have.  Known not so affectionately as Hell's Half Acre, this whole area is still torn apart by the ravages of years of lead and zinc mining.  Once past this small culvert and road stencil (see pics) and over the old overpass bridge, you will enter the seemingly almost deserted town of Galena.  Named appropriately for the previous gray gold of the area, Galena has been decimated by the triple whammy of the decline in the need for lead/zinc, the bypassing of its main street by I-44 and no easy access to the interstate.  Thusly, Galena is barely hanging on, but refuses to give up the ghost. 

     Speaking of ghosts, Galena sports a couple of great old faded signs painted on the sides of buildings.  Often called 'ghost signs', these relics of an earlier, simpler advertising era still remain to intrigue us today.  Check out this great old Henry Moore's 5-cent cigar sign on the northern edge of Main Street, then head a little bit south to check out the more familiar General ghost sign.  Is this for General Tires?  A general store?  If someone could drop me a note and let me know, I'd appreciate it.

     Follow the colorful Kansas 66 sign west.  Once over the Spring River, you will enter the small community Of Riverton.  Seemingly a sleepy little community today, the subdivision of Harreld's Oaks (1905) and the remains of the Spring River Inn have obviously been around to see the rise and fall of the Mother Road in the area.  If only these pillars could speak of the tales they've seen...

     Just west of Riverton, be sure to stop and see Kansas 66's most famous landmark-the sole remaining Marsh Rainbow Arch bridge just west of the junction of Kansas 66 and Alt 69.  This 1923 beauty was almost lost to short-sighted bureaucrats, but was saved by the fantastic efforts of the Kansas 66 association and friends.  Long a favorite 'hang-out' for the local kids, I was lucky enough to swing on through just after a fresh coat of paint had been applied and the bridge hadn't been too 'accesorized'.

      Baxter Springs is just down the road.  Showing a little more life than the other two towns, Baxter Springs appears to be one of those rare small towns that is able to maintain that fine balance between new growth and preservation of its past.  Indeed, the downtown area seems like a step back in time.  Murphy's Restaurant is still open for business, and just one block north, there are the remains of two old stations-one of them apparently an old Phillips 66 now pulling new duty as a mini-mart type store.  Be sure to stop and explore the area a little and help support these enterprises-especially those that are attempting to retain the character of the businesses/buildings that once were.

     Once past the new Wal-Mart and the other modern trappings on the southern edge of town, grab that stack of roadmaps and get ready to enter that schizophrenic state; that state that can't decide if it's part of the Midwest or 'The' West; that state where Cyrus Avery began it all:
 Oklahoma!

--OR--
choose your favorite 66 state to jump to!