| Hot Springs National Park | |
History:
Tradition has it that in 1541 Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto and his troops were the first Europeans to see the springs. French trappers, hunters, and traders became familiar with the area in the late 1700's and in 1803 the United States acquired the area when it purchased the Louisiana Territory from France. The following year President Jefferson sent an expedition led by William Dunbar and George Hunter to explore the springs, and their widely publicized report stirred considerable interest in the "Hot Springs of the the Washita."
As more and more people came to soak in the waters, the idea of reserving the springs for the nation took root and a proposal was submitted to Congress. In 1832, the Federal Government set aside four sections of land here, the first U.S. reservation made simply to protect a natural resource. (This makes Hot Springs the oldest park currently in the National Park System--40 years older than Yellowstone National Park!)
The reservation eventually developed into a well-known resort nicknamed "The American Spa" because it attracted not only the wealthy but also indigent health seekers from around the world. Today the park protects eight historic bathhouses with the former luxurious Fordyce Bathhouse housing the park visitor center. The entire "Bathhouse Row" area is a National Historic Landmark District that contains the grandest collection of bathhouses of its kind in North America.
Nature and Science
Learn about plants, animals, environmental factors, and natural features and ecosystems at Hot Springs.Historic Hot Springs
Learn about the the architectural treasures of the bathhouses, Victorian buildings, art and sculpture galleries.
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Hot Springs National Park |
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| General Information | Lodging in the Park |
| Getting to the Park | Photographs and Maps |
| Camping | Nearby National Parks, Forests & Scenic Roads |
| Educational Opportunities | Things to Do |
| History and Geology | Travel & Tourism Offices |
| Jobs and Volunteering | Weather |
