By: Heather

What is Hot Springs National Park?

It was originally founded as a National

Park in 1832. In 1832, Congress declared H.S. as a “Reserved” area. People from all over the U.S. would come to H.S. to soak in its Thermal Water. Animals in H.S. are things like bats, some rodents, and some other type of small creatures. It was so popular, Congress couldn’t let it be unnoticed. Worse, people would fight over its waters. So they put a limit on how long you could stay in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Thus Congress created the first National Park!

Soaking in water is not just the only activity. Hiking 30 miles through the Ouachita Mountains, camping and picnics in the forest, driving in Hot Spring’s beautiful forests, I can go on! You can take a tour at the Fordyce Bathhouse. The Fordyce Bathhouse is an old yet beautiful building! From its stained glass transoms, to its marble floors! The Fordyce Bathhouse is more than you think.

Fact: There is the Noble Fountain standing outside of the Superintendent’s office. It was made in 1891. It was made to hold the pumps and pipes supporting the springs, but never was it ever used to do that. It was re-made in 1898 for the superintendent’s office when his original office was taken from Fountain Street.

Fordyce Bathhouse

The Bathhouse was originally, well, the bathhouse. Here you would change out and into clothes, and wash yourself. But it was shut down due to “Declining Business.” It was reopened as the Park Visitor Center. At one end of the bathhouse is a fountain. It shows a child sitting on a shell standing upright. The fountain once spouted fresh spring water, but now sadly it does not.

On the second floor it shows the dressing rooms and the Male Massage Rooms. They were once held on the second floor, but now you can see displays in one of the dressing rooms. You can also see a 9 minute movie that explains the normal bath routine.

On the third floor is the music room and gym. Relaxing and healthy. The perfect floor after a hard day’s work! Just hope no one breaks any kind of instrument… when I say “no one” I mean you.

Here is a Spring in H.S. Yes, it

looks very soothing, you just have to

travel there to relax in it! (Fact:

The water comes out of

the earth, and flows from a mountain/hill

into these pools below.)

The green area on the map is the National Park, which is surrounded by the city of

Hot Springs.

I introduce you to the Fordyce Bathhouse! As you see there are three floors, which I will showcase to you.

This is the overhead stained glass window on the 1st floor of the Fordyce Bathhouse.

Here is the 2nd floor. As you see there are doors leading to the dressing rooms and what not. Remember: this is quite a old place! Though

renovations have been done, it's still fragile!

This is the gym (Left) and the music room (Right). They are both on the third floor.

The Gym is almost like a jungle! Swinging from bars, climbing ladders, jumping off the building - wait, that

doesn’t sound right… (Sadly they do not allow anyone in here. They don’t want anyone to break the

equipment...)

The Music room- holds one piano. Also great for taking a nap… *ZzZzZzZz…. ZzZzZz…* Huh? Oh

sorry.... *Blushes awkwardly, and walks away* (Also, I’m not sure if they will allow you in here. I’m 80%

sure it’s a no, due to the fragile furniture.

Resources

*http://www.nps.gov/HOSP/planyourvisit/index.htm*Images of America: Hot Springs National Park by Mary Bell Hill