The Public Art Committee of Baxter Springs, Kansas, announced a forthcoming public mural emphasizing the town’s history, including Route 66.
According to the Spring River Current and KSNF-TV, the mural will be funded by a $7,500 grant from the Kansas Department of Commerce and the Office of Rural Development, with matching funds from the Ronald O. Thomas Foundation.
The design will include Baxter Springs’ baseball history (probably Hall of Fame member Mickey Mantle, who played on the local team as a youth), plus the military, railroad, cattle drives and the Mother Road.
The Current posted several photos from the news conference announcing the mural, including a preliminary sketch:
“It’s going to hopefully greet our national and international friends that travel Route 66, as well as local residents who work outside of town,” said Jennifer Burton of the art mural committee.
The artwork will be by the father-son duo of AJ and Jordon Wood, who have created murals in other parts of Baxter Springs.
The mural will be at U.S. 69 and Route 66 near Baxter Springs High School. The committee aims to have the mural finished around Labor Day.
—