Historic Hot Springs, Arkansas

On a chilly day in December of 1804, naturalist William Dunbar and chemist George Hunter located the steaming waters and stunning mineral deposits of the legendary "Hot Springs of the Washita."

Sent by President Thomas Jefferson on a fact finding mission after the land that is now Arkansas came under U.S. ownership as part of the vast 1803 Louisiana Purchase, Dunbar and Hunter published their findings in leading periodicals and made famous a geological wonder rare in mid-America.

By 1828, a simple hotel was accommodating visitors and crude structures had been built over some of the natural hot spring water to shelter bathers. In 1832, Congress declared the area a federal reservation in order to protect this amazing natural wonder.*

By 1921 Hot Springs had developed into a popular resort destination featuring gambling, a national park, healing thermal water spas and horse racing. With the closing of the casinos in the mid-1960's, Hot Springs became a popular family vacation and convention destination.

Today, the city boasts beautifully restored national landmarks in the Arkansas historic sites in the downtown historic district, Hot Springs National Park, Victorian architecture, historic hotels, thermal spas and, as the boyhood home of Bill Clinton, historic presidential sites. Take an online tour through Hot Springs, Arkansas history going east on Central Avenue and read all about the romantic history and interesting sites you will enjoy when you visit.

*Excerpts from Geological Wonder at Center of Hot Springs National Park by Jim Taylor, travel writer, Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism