Baxter Springs has 150 candles on its birthday cake this year, and the city has quite the history.    
And KSN’s Brad Douglas reports on how the city has seen many changes over the years.   Baxter Springs is turning 150 years old and that's called a sesquicentennial celebration,and try saying that three times fast.

Phyliss Abbot is the Historical Society President and is in charge of the Baxter Springs Museum.

She says the town was named in 1849 after John Baxter.

"He was a gun toting preacher, and he had a big family and they entertained a lot of people who came on the military road."

   And the city was also the site of a major civil war battle.

"Many people think the Civil War was back east, but it started in eastern Kansas and western Missouri. Baxter Springs was the site of those conflicts."

  In more recent times, Route 66 has been the main historical attraction of Baxter Springs. Historians recently renovated this Phillips 66 station to make it look like it did back in the day.

"We have reached around 30 or so people a day, and probably half of those are from foreign counties. It's truly amazing," said Carolyn Pendleton, Route 66 Historian.

  If you would like to visit the Baxter Springs Museum, they are open Monday thru Saturday from 10am to 4:30pm and on Sunday’s 1pm to 4:30pm. The museum is located at 740 East avenue.