Hot Springs National Park was first called Hot Springs Reservation -- and was initially created by an act of Congress on April 20, 1832 — even before the concept of a national park existed. It was the first time that a piece of land had been set aside by the federal government for the people as an area for recreation.
For centuries, the hot spring water was believed to possess medicinal properties — and the subject of legend among several Native American tribes. Following federal protection, the city developed into a successful spa town and has been home to Major League Baseball spring training, illegal gambling, speakeasies and gangsters such as Al Capone, horse racing at Oaklawn Park, the Army and Navy Hospital, and 42nd President Bill Clinton.
The park includes portions of downtown Hot Springs, making it one of the most accessible national parks. Bathing in spring water is available in approved facilities and 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 row's Fordyce Bathhouse serves as the park's visitor center and Buckstaff and Quapaw still operate as bathhouses.
Click here to see the Hot Springs National Park poster.
Rob Decker is a photographer and graphic artist with a single passion for our National Parks! Rob is on a journey to explore and photograph each of our national parks and to create WPA-style posters to celebrate the amazing landscapes, vibrant culture and rich history that embody America's Best Idea!
Source: https://national-park-posters.com/blogs/national-park-posters/hot-springs-national-park
