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Hot Springs National Park

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Even though Hot Springs became the 18th National Park in 1921, it was declared a Reservation in 1832, making it the oldest nationally designated park. I'm not quite sure why it's a National Park, but in 1921 the US was on a major health craze, and the water here was thought to have theriputic value which brought the public here by the thousands.

Another reason could be the hot spring itself. It's a huge natural fresh water resevoir, more than 4,000 years old, and gushes some 850,000 gallons per day.

I went into the open bathhouses back in 1987 or 88, but the pictures from that time have...been misplaced. They're part of the Park now, and are open to the public.

Hot Springs Map
Cropped map of Hot Springs National Park. Click on the map for a larger view. This map was downloaded from the NPS site.

Hot Springs National Park
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Arkansas Scenic 7
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Arkansas Scenic 7 might be the first road I actively went out of my way to drive, while looking for an interesting way to get to Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Since that time, I've driven it every time I had to go through that part of the country. Unfortunately, as repairs are made with federal funds, the road is being brought up to federal highway standards, which generally ruins the character of the drive.
Arkansas / 49 Images. Visited Feb 1986, Jun 1992, Jun 1998, Sep 2002, Sep 2005.

Hot Springs National Park Trip Reports: Jun 1998, Sep 2002.

Return to: State Index Arkansas State Page National Parks

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