Hot Springs National Park was officially designated as a national park on March 4, 1921, but was recognized as the Hot Springs Reservation in April of 1832. It was the first time land had been set aside specifically for the purpose of future recreation.
Much like Excelsior Springs, Mo., the waters at Hot Springs were thought to be medicinal in nature. Several Native American tribes like the Quapaw, Choctaw and Cherokee lived in the Ouachita Mountains and traveled to Hot Springs in order to take in the healing properties of the waters. Following the official designation in 1832, the city began to become known as a “spa town,” and businesses began to spring up, offering a variety of spa and hot water treatments.
During the early 20th…
