Over the Rainbow Bridge, Kansas

The Route 66 of today sometimes veers off from the original direction of America’s Main Street. Here, at DBH, we want to present the full spectrum of the Mother Road by showing you current attractions, hotels, restaurants, etc. as well as past sights, historic events, and lore. The Rainbow Bridge, or the Brush Creek Bridge, as it is known today, is a bridge that straddles both of these time frames. Built in 1923 this single-span concrete bridge crosses Brush Creek near Baxter Springs, Kansas. Established on what would become historic US-66, the road has now been made into a county road. Rainbow Bridge is known as a “Marsh arch bridge” and was designed by engineer James Barney Marsh who was credited with a new patented design for arch bridges. Currently, Rainbow Bridge stands as the only functioning bridge of its type on the historic highway.

In 1983 the bridge received placement on the National Register of Historic Places. While a highway bypass has been built, and a more modern bridge installed to lead heavy traffic towards Baxter Springs, a one lane road can still be taken to traverse this historic crossing.

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It’s a small attraction that holds lots of cultural and historic significance – have you driven over Rainbow Bridge? Let us know and make sure to email us any photos you have if you’d like to be featured on the website.