Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

Originally the “hot springs of the Washita” it was part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. Over the next twenty-nine years, a few local settlers worked to turn the springs into a privately owned health resort, while others petitioned the federal government to make them accessible for everyone. The latter group prevailed. On April 20, 1832, the United States Congress set aside the area now known as Hot Springs National Park in Hot Springs Arkansas. Hot Springs National Park parks borders a city that has made an industry out of tapping and dispensing the park's major resource: mineral-rich waters of hot springs. Hot Springs National Park is arguably the oldest of the current national parks in the National Park Service, predating Yellowstone National Park by forty years. Because the area was reserved for federal use, it became known as the Hot Springs Reservation.

A product of complex geological forces, the hot springs flow from the Zigzag Mountains, a small range within the Ouachita Mountains system. Falling rain first percolates through the ground cover, forming carbonic acid as it reacts with carbon dioxide in the soil. Continuing downward through broken chert and novaculite, the acidic water dissolves calcium carbonate, iron oxides, and other minerals. As the water sinks even deeper, its temperature rises, probably because of elemental radioactive decay and gravitational compression deep within the earth. Geologists believe that, at the end of a journey lasting approximately 4,000 years, the water converges between 6,000 and 8,000 feet below the ground just northwest of downtown Hot Springs (Garland County). Here, several large cracks in the earth’s crust provide the water with a quick escape route, and it finally emerges as hot springs on the west side of Hot Springs Mountain.

Bathhouse Row and its environs were placed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 13, 1974. The desire to revitalize downtown Hot Springs led citizens to campaign for adaptive uses of the vacant bathhouses. The luxurious Fordyce Bathhouse, adapted for use as the park visitor center and museum, reopened on May 13, 1989. Hot Springs National Park restored the original bathhouse furnishings or replaced them with authentic substitutes and opened the bathhouses for public tours. The historic bathhouses form the core of the park’s cultural heritage, but it also maintains several formally landscaped areas of mixed native and exotic species. The row of stately southern magnolia trees in front of Bathhouse Row is probably the best known of these. Other cultural features include fountains, concrete paths, historic hiking trails, paved scenic drives, a former Government Free Bathhouse, a 1912 former medical director’s residence, and a brick Grand Promenade that is a National Recreation Trail.

Beautiful NP in downtown Hot Springs and a must see if you're visiting Arkansas. I would say not really a park for children but adults will enjoy the geology, architecture, the museum and history of the park. There are many hiking trails and a scenic drive above and the hot springs abound throughout the city with a fountain where you can fill your jugs with hot mineral water...tasted really good, and HOT!!!...

Just a few photos to give you a flavor of the area.

Quapaw Bath House, only one still operational

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Park HQ and museum is the bath house on the right

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Therapeutic Baths

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Typical tub

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Men's changing room

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Keyhole Bath Tub

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Men's Bathing Lobby, note statue and stained glass ceiling

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Stained Glass ceiling in men's bathing lobby

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Third Floor Party Room

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Third Floor Party Room

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Hereford Loc: Palm Coast, FL

Very nice, interesting photos and narrative about Hot Springs. Had to wait until the end of your narrative to find out this place is located in Arkansas rather than several other places I was conjuring up as I read.

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

Thanks and sorry hereford, I'll correct the location

whatdat Loc: Del Valle, Tx.

Very nice & historic area. Some 15-20 years ago my wife & I & some friends would stop at a ranch south of Hot Springs for a couple of days with our horses on the way to Tennessee or Missouri. One trip we went into town to one of the bath houses, soaked in the hot tubs, & got massages. So relaxed afterwards I could barely chew my meal at a local restaurant. :-)

Thanks for bringing back the great memories.

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

Glad you enjoyed them..

Quixdraw Loc: x

Was a hot spot in more ways than one. There is also a Gangster Museum, and Haunted Tour. At one point, before the war, it was apparently quite a hotbed of gambling, crime and other things.

whatdat Loc: Del Valle, Tx.

Back in the early 1900’s there was a night club on the west side of Arkansas at the state line with Okla. that was so rough the Sheriff wouldn’t even go out there unless there was a murder. Has really changed a lot since then.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Very interesting.

tcthome Loc: NJ

Great info to go with some great photos.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

I have been to Hot Springs several times. My parents owned property at Hot Springs Village. I never took the time to read the history of the Springs. Thanks for the tour and the narrative.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Excellent tour! Photography and narrative were first class.

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

So true QD, there were a lot of things happening back at the turn of the century (19th) and the roaring 20's...

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

Shades of Buford Pusser...

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

More than welcome Ken...glad you liked it.

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

Thanks Mike.