Hot Springs, AR

The thermal waters of Hot Springs, Arkansas are legendary for their medicinal value.

Native Americans and early settlers are said to have flocked to the area to discover the mystical healing power of the water in Hot Springs.

At 143-degrees, the natural springs produce almost one-million gallons of water each day.

It’s hard to tell exactly how long humans have been visiting the springs. Spanish and French settlers had each claimed the area early on in the 1500’s, 1600’s and 1700’s. In fact, famous explorer Hernando DeSoto was the first European to visit Hot Springs in 1541.

The healing baths of Hot Springs were such a coveted natural wonder that, in 1832, Congress granted federal protection to the area, naming it the Hot Springs Reservation. In 1921, it was renamed Hot Springs National Park.

Bathhouse Row during the 1920's was a hub of activity. The impressive bathhouse structures lined one side of Central Avenue, their doors open to a steady stream of patrons coming to "take the cure". Most of the baths closed in the 1970's. There are still two of them operating today. The water is even available at city fountains, drawing thousands of visitors each year who seek the healing power of the water in Hot Springs.

Hot Springs Mountain Tower built in 1983, is 216’ high at an elevation of 1,040’. It overlooks the Hot Springs Valley and the Ouachita Mountains. The tower is a modern structure with two viewing levels. It was built in 1983 and is the third tower in that location.