Congress established Hot Springs Reservation on April 20, 1832 to protect hot springs flowing from the southwestern slope of Hot Springs Mountain. Known for its 47 thermal springs, this national park is the nation's oldest, predating Yellowstone by 40 years. Features more than 30 miles of hiking trails through the glorious Ouachita Mountains, scenic drives,
Hot Springs Reservation was initially created by an act of the United States Congress on April 20, 1832 to be preserved for future recreation.
Established before the concept of a national park existed, it was the first time that land had been set aside by the federal government to preserve its use as an area for recreation.
The hot spring water has been popularly believed for centuries to possess medicinal properties, and was a subject of legend among several Native American tribes. Following federal protection in 1832, the city developed into a successful spa town.
Bathing in spring water is available in approved facilities at extra cost. The entire Bathhouse Row area is designated as a National Historic Landmark District.
It contains the grandest collection of bathhouses of its kind in North America, including many outstanding examples of Gilded Age architecture.
The bathhouses are a collection of turn-of-the-century eclectic buildings in neoclassical, renaissance-revival, Spanish and Italianate styles aligned in a linear pattern with formal entrances, outdoor fountains, promenades, and other landscape-architectural features.
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