Brush Creek Rainbow Bridge

Old Route 66 Between Riverton and Baxter Springs, KS
Phone:

East < GO > West

The Brush Creek Rainbow Arch bridge is located on the 1926 alignment of Route 66 between Riverton and Baxter, KS. There were three bridges like this on Route 66 but this is the only one left. This bridge was in constant use on Route 66 from 1926 to 1960, but it is still in use today on the older alignment and draws a steady stream of roadies.

The James B. Marsh Arch style bridge was completed in 1923, but the conrete approaches to it were apparently not finished until the spring of 1924. The bridge is 130 feet long, 20 feet wide with the archs rising 26 feet. The bridge was saved from demolition and restored in 1992. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Brush Creek Bridge in 1983.

The later alignment is only a few dozen feet downstream from this spot and a tiny bit of that bridge is seen on the far right in this photo.. This is a favorite photo op for travelers on the Mother Road.

This rather neat sign stands next to the bridge. The bridge was refurbished in the early 1990s. The bottom board says:

Welcome to Kansas
Route 66 13.2 Miles
Tying 66 Together

Photo(s): 2009, 2012