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Hot Springs National Park is a rather interesting park. We were surprised at it's early designation and how the town basically surrounds the park. On another interesting note the abbreviation for the park is HOSP which is kind of neat considering that people used the hot springs to "cure what ails you" in a way similar to a hospital, receiving diagnosis and prescriptions from doctors for treatment in the springs.
They have an amazing number of free flowing springs in town, most of which have been boxed for safety and cleanliness. They have fountains with hot and cold spring water. The hot water runs about 144 so it has some interesting growths to it in its natural state.
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| Checking out the first spring! |
The National Park visitor's center is in the Fordyce Bath which is the most opulent of the bath houses. Stained glass everywhere. In the day Babe Ruth would come here as part of spring training.
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| Welcome |
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| In the women's bathing room |
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| Gym used by famous people over the years! |
You might remember from the Ford Museum Sweet's collection of antique post cards. This one is from a hotel that no longer exists in Hot Springs since although it was built to be "fireproof" it didn't work out so well. The post card is from 1908 and the hotel burned in 1923.
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