Shared with the blogging community at THAT'S MY WORLD.
Sunday June 5. We're living our full time life on the road again this week, right now in Hot Springs Arkansas. We spent a week in this lovely area in Fall 2008. One of the highlights of that visit was visiting bathhouse row at Hot Springs National Park. It's just a quick stopover this year, so no time for a bath (maybe a shower in the campground ;>). So this is a repeat of a post from our earlier trip. Click on Arkansas on the category list to read more about this area -- It's a great place to visit.
November 17, 2008
Hot Springs is quite an unusual National Park. Water -- for bathing and drinking -- is the main attraction. The Park is a developed area in the small city of Hot Springs, Arkansas. Some beautiful scenery surrounds the city, but the main part of the National Park is located along one street in downtown Hot Springs called Bathhouse Row. There is also is a series of walking paths through a park area behind the Row. This is the Buckstaff Bathhouse, seen from the path behind it.
Hot Springs isn't a volcanic region. The water began as rain that fell over 4000 years ago. It is heated by a combination of rocks that lie deep in the earth here and then it surfaces in springs on the slopes of the Hot Springs mountains. It gets hot because of gravity compressing the earth and by certain elements decaying the earth crust. When it gets to the surface it is an average temperature of 143 degrees F.
Many people believe in the therapeutic powers of the spring water. There are free fountains fed by springs throughout the town and we saw people collecting it by the jugful to carry home. The water has no taste or odor at all.
There are records and pictures showing that various American Indian tribes bathed in these springs in the 1700s and probably their ancestors used them before that. People soon began to build shacks and wooden covers over some of the springs. After several disastrous fires, the government took control of the springs in the 1870s and began to license private bathhouses. The area was promoted as "the Nation's Health Sanitarium." Water therapy was one of the few treatments available for many diseases. In the 1920s and 30s, the area was a hugely popular health and vacation destination and a major rail travel destination.
But as medical advances provided a surer way to cure disease and car ownership made it easier for people to travel for longer distances, Hot Springs began to decline as a vacation/health destination.
By the 1950s, only one Bathhouse was still operating and some of the others were left to become eyesores.
After years of decline, the National Park Service began working to restore Bathhouse Row and preserve it as an historical attraction. The Foredyce Bathhouse is where the Park Visitor Center is located. It has been restored to the glory of its hey-days and there is a self-guided tour. The room pictured here was part of the men's bathing room. The women's side of the bath house was not as elegant. Taking the baths was quite the social occasion in those days, as well as being therapeutic.
Now there are eight preserved bathhouses along the row, but only a couple are operating. The Park Service regulates and supervises, but they are run by private concessioners. Others are still in the process of being renovated..
We felt like it would be a shame to be in a National Park and not sample its main reason for being. So we went to the Buckstaff, which is the one that has been operating continuously since 1912. It isn't quite as glamorous as it used to be, but being pampered felt great. Ahhh! Who would ever think that taking a bath would be a part of a National Park experience.
What a fun way to "soak up" some history.
I'm among those who believe in the therapeutic powers of the spring water... or more accurately, any water. I may prefer salt water. It would have been a shame indeed not to try the bath house.
Posted by: Francisca | June 09, 2011 at 01:25 PM
Very interesting post and what a neat park. Thanks for the tour Sallie.
Posted by: Eileen | June 09, 2011 at 01:52 AM
I'm happy to share your travel, Sallie and hope it's not too tiring ! Pampering ; what a good idea after a long day on the road !
Posted by: Annie | June 08, 2011 at 08:10 AM
Looks like an interesting spot with a lot of history
Posted by: Joe Todd | June 08, 2011 at 03:35 AM
Pampering - exactly what should go on during a vacation!
Interesting info Sallie.
Posted by: Carletta | June 07, 2011 at 08:32 PM
Great tour!! Boom & gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
Posted by: Boom & Gary | June 07, 2011 at 06:24 AM
A delightful look back, Sallie.. just look at the fall color of the trees.
hugs,
Pam
Posted by: Pam | June 07, 2011 at 02:19 AM
Beautiful area!
Posted by: Goodies for a pleasant life | June 06, 2011 at 11:41 PM
What a wonderful post and photos for the day, Sallie! Right now I would love to be able to soak my old bones in a hot bath!! Hope your week is off to a great start! Enjoy!
Sylvia
Posted by: Sylvia Kirkwood | June 06, 2011 at 08:43 PM
What a great place! Shame you didn't have time to stop there today.
Posted by: Lady Fi | June 06, 2011 at 08:41 PM
How very interesting! I always think of hot springs as mineral springs, and hadn't considered any other source. Learn something new every day. Thanks, Sallie.
— K
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel
Posted by: Kay Davies | June 06, 2011 at 08:07 PM
i am one of those who believe in the healing powers of the spring.
Posted by: Ewok | June 06, 2011 at 07:42 PM
I don't know if mineral baths have any therapeutic value but my old bones, muscles and joints do appreciate a hot bath to get them moving or recover from a long hike. I sometimes wish the Roadtrek had a tub.
Posted by: Martha | June 06, 2011 at 07:12 PM
Wonderful shots and interesting information.
Posted by: Rajesh | June 06, 2011 at 05:59 PM
This was an interesting post. I was reading another blogger recently, from Arkansas, who was bemoaning the fact there her state was always overlooked as it was not known for anything worth visiting, She was from Little Rock, which now that I have googled a map, is not that far away.
Posted by: VioletSky | June 06, 2011 at 05:36 PM
What a fascinating place! Scenic and healthy for mind and body!
Posted by: Gemma @ Greyscale | June 06, 2011 at 04:21 PM
LOVE to get in a hot spring--Ive only done that in CO tho....Diana a Full timer you may read has a knack for finding some very a'natural ones...
Posted by: Sondra | June 06, 2011 at 01:46 PM
Hi Sallie, glad to hear you are mobile. I'm back in PA and already looking forward to my return to Florida the end of August. Enjoy your travels. Judy
Posted by: Judy Friend | June 06, 2011 at 10:08 AM