When you imagine a national park, what do you see? Remote wildernesses, probably. Hot Springs National Park is a bit of an odd duck, as it’s a national park surrounded by a city!
Hot Springs National Park: A Tale of a City’s History
A tour of Hot Springs National Park is a tour of the history of the city. The city started as a sacred healing site visited by the indigenous peoples until the area was colonized by expanding European settlers. The natural springs were then capped and routed to luxury bath houses where the upper class monopolized the restorative waters.
There is even a tale of the poor and middle-class people who came to the area to bathe in the hot springs. Not having the means to pay the astounding cost of using the established bathhouses, they dug a new spring higher on the hill for their own use. The enraged wealthy elite then petitioned the local government to protect their monopoly and shut down the “pirate spring.”
Today, the bathhouses remain and are used by the public for a fee. Also, several natural springs have been re-established for tourists to see and touch. There are even a few cold springs outside of the park where tourists and locals can fill their drinking water vessels with the naturally clean and mineral-rich waters.
Hot Springs, the City
The town around the park is a typical tourist town, dominated by eateries, boutiques, tchotchke vendors, and local color. While visiting the park is free, especially if you find the free parking garage, one can easily spend a fair penny at the shops along the main street.
Overall, it was a pleasant day trip, and another great geotourism destination if you find yourself in the area.