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DESCRIPTION OF HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK
Hot Springs National Park is a 5,500-acre park in Hot Springs, Arkansas, that preserves geothermal spring water and resources related to therapeutic bathing. Congress created the park in 1832 when it designated the land as Hot Springs Reservation, making it the first area nationwide to be set aside for protection by the federal government. In 1921, the reservation’s name changed to Hot Springs National Park. Today, Hot Springs National Park preserves and manages its natural and cultural resources for over 1.5 million annual visitors. Located about 55 miles southwest of Little Rock, Hot Springs National Park encompasses mostly forested mountains, but includes a developed urban edge formed by Bathhouse Row, which was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987.
Bathhouse Row is a ¼-mile-long row of eight bathhouse buildings along Central Avenue. It is the most heavily visited part of the park. This area encompasses six acres formally landscaped with open lawns, trees, shrubs, fountains, a formal staircase entrance, a promenade in front of the bathhouses, and a Grand Promenade behind the bathhouses. The Buckstaff Bathhouse and the Administration Building, located at the southern end of the row, are the only structures used for their original purposes. All other bathhouses have been adapted for other uses by either the NPS or private sector partners.
Hot Springs National Park collects and distributes thermal water for use in park buildings and public fountains as well as by area hotels and a local hospital. The park uses an extensive underground collection system that is largely concealed from public view as most of the 47 springs are capped to prevent contamination. Recent studies have shown that the greatest threat to the health of the thermal springs may be from development outside the park as most of the water recharge zone is beyond the park boundary.
1405ft428m
1120ft341m
1100ft335m
1060ft323m
1179ft359m
1209ft369m
70B
7
7s
7
7
70B
270B
270B0.5
0.5
0
0
1 Mile
1 Kilometer
North
Dangerous curvesDrive with caution
Bull
Creek
Bayou
Whittington
Hot S
prin
gs
Cre
ek
Hot Sp
ring
s Creek
Gulpha Creek
Gulpha Creek
Cedar Glades
Road
Cedar Glades Road
Cedar Street
Whittington Avenue
Sunse
t
Trai
l
Sunset Trail
Sunset Trail
CityPark
LindenStreetPark
DeSotoPark
SUGARLOAF M
OUNTAIN
WEST MOUNTAIN
H
OT
SPR
ING
S M
OU
NT
AIN
NORTH
M
OUNTAIN
MUSIC
MOUNTAIN
INDIANMOUNTAIN
BalancedRock
SeeBathhouseRow Map
LeviHospital
Hot Springs Civic andConvention Center andSummit Arena
Hot SpringsMountain Tower
Thermal WaterJug Fountain
HappyHollowSpring
ThermalWater Jug
Fountain
FederalBuilding
Post Office
City VisitorInformation
BusDepot
Libbey MemorialPhysical Medicine Center(closed)
Highest Point in Park
WhittingtonSpring
Park MaintenanceArea
Amphitheater
Shelter
Shelter
Pavilion
Gulpha GorgeCampground
Gulpha GorgePicnic Area
GoatRock
Park
A
venu
e
Cen
tral
A
ven
ue
Ouachita
Ave
nue
Quapaw Ave
nue
Gra
nd
Ave
nue
Grand Avenue
West Mountain
Drive
West Mountain Summit
Drive
Prosp
ect
Avenue
Whitt
ington
Avenue
To
p
Trai
l
Mountain Top Trail
Mou
ntai
n
Gulph
a Gorge Trail
Su
nset T
rail
Broadway
M
alvern Avenue
Spring St
Spring Street
Reserv e St
CITY OFHOT SPRINGS
CITY OFHOT SPRINGS
Hot Springs Creek flows in atunnel under Bathhouse Row
Rese
rv
e Trail
Dead Chief Trail
Short
Cut Tr
ail
Peak
Tra
il
Hot
Spr
ings
Hon
eysu
ckle
Tr
ail
Hot Sp
rings
Mou
ntain
T
rail
Hot Springs M
ou
ntain Drive
Mou
ntai
n T
rail
FountainTrail
FloralTrail
GrandAvenueTrail
ArlingtonTrail
Dogwood Tr
ail (
low
er lo
op)
Dogw
ood
Tra
il
(low
er l
oop)
Gorge Road
To Russellville116km 72mi Stonebridge Road
To Little Rock87km 54mi
To Lake Catherine State Park19km 12mi
ToRace Track 3km 2mi
Lake Hamilton 10km 6mi
ToAirport 3.2km 2mi
Lake Hamilton 8km 5miLake Ouachita State Park 26km 16mi
ToLake Ouachita State Park
West
Mou
ntai
n D
rive
Sunse
t T
rail
Black Snake Road
CanyonTrail
1260ft384m
Goat Rock
Tra
il
(upper loop)
Dogwood Trail
Dogwood Tra
il (upper l
oop)
Dea
d C
hie
f T
rail
West Mountain Trail
West Mountain
Trai
l
Park
Avenue
Oak
T
rail
Nor
th M
tn L
oo
p
National Park Visitor Center
Picnic area
Restrooms
Ranger stationParking areas
Cold springHiking trail
NPS property
Overlook Off street parking is abundant; privately owned parking lots are located across from and to the south of Bathhouse Row.
Wheelchair-accessible
Foundation DocumentHot Springs National Park
CONTACT INFORmATION or write to:Superintendent Hot Springs National Park 101 Reserve StreetHot Springs, AR 71901
For more information about the Hot Springs National Park Foundation Document, contact: hosp_superintendent@nps.gov or 501-623-2824
National Park ServiceU.S. Department of the Interior
Hot Springs National ParkArkansas
Fundamental resources and values are closely related to a park’s designated purpose and warrant primary consideration in planning and management because they are critical to maintaining the park’s purpose and significance. If these resources are allowed to deteriorate, the purpose and/or significance of the park could be jeopardized.
The fundamental resources and values of Hot Springs National Park are
• Thermal water and all components
• Water collection and distribution system
• Public interaction with geothermal water and the natural environment for the promotion of holistic human health
• Cultural landscape, including the Bathhouse Row National Historic Landmark
• Museum collection
Purpose Significance Fundamental Resources and Values Interpretive Themes
Park significance statements are directly linked to the purpose of the park and express why the park’s resources and values are important enough to warrant national park designation.
• Hot Springs National Park is the only national park that protects a unique combination of lithology, geologic structure, and water sources that produce the only nonvolcanic geothermal springs of such high quality (temperature, taste, color, odorless) in the United States.
• Hot Springs National Park is the only national park in the United States established to promote a holistic approach to health by ensuring public access to geothermal water, the surrounding natural environment, and other public recreational landscapes.
• Hot Springs National Park offers unparalleled opportunities for research of a geothermal hydrologic system that has been geologically stable for 200 million years such as the study of the recently discovered globally unique thermophilic life forms and other yet-to-be-discovered resources.
• The Bathhouse Row National Historic Landmark, which contains the largest collection of early 20th century bathhouses in the United States and the Grand Promenade, showcases the evolving approach to the architectural and landscape design of spa resorts.
• The thermal springs in Hot Springs National Park were the first, and continue to be, the only federally controlled hot springs in the United States to be managed for both public health and consumptive use. Hot Springs National Park is the only unit of the national park system that is mandated to give away its primary natural resource to the general public in an unending and unaltered state.
The purpose of Hot Springs National Park is to protect its
unique geothermal spring water and associated lands for public
health, wellness, and enjoyment.
Interpretive themes are ideas or concepts about Hot Springs National Park that are key to helping visitors gain an understanding of park significance and resources. The themes, which are based on park purpose and significance, provide the basis for interpretive programs and media in the park.
• While Hot Springs National Park protects the quality of the geothermal spring water, it is up to us all to preserve the quantity of the water.
• The thermal water and experiences in the natural environment that originally drew people to the area continue to be key elements to a holistic approach to life, health, and wellness.
• For over 200 years, the mystery of these hot springs has lured people to conduct research and make scientific discoveries that provide a greater understanding of the geothermal system. This fascination with the spring water may also inspire future scientific breakthroughs.
• The impressive cultural landscape of Bathhouse Row evokes the continuum of the American spa experience through history, anchored in the methods and beliefs of the past, yet ever-evolving to meet the needs of modern times.
• The perceived healing value of the geothermal spring water prompted the U.S. government to take unprecedented action that ultimately provided equal access to the water for everyone.
Fundamental resources and values are closely related to a park’s designated purpose and warrant primary consideration in planning and management because they are critical to maintaining the park’s purpose and significance. If these resources are allowed to deteriorate, the purpose and/or significance of the park could be jeopardized.
The fundamental resources and values of Hot Springs National Park are
• Thermal water and all components
• Water collection and distribution system
• Public interaction with geothermal water and the natural environment for the promotion of holistic human health
• Cultural landscape, including the Bathhouse Row National Historic Landmark
• Museum collection
Purpose Significance Fundamental Resources and Values Interpretive Themes
Park significance statements are directly linked to the purpose of the park and express why the park’s resources and values are important enough to warrant national park designation.
• Hot Springs National Park is the only national park that protects a unique combination of lithology, geologic structure, and water sources that produce the only nonvolcanic geothermal springs of such high quality (temperature, taste, color, odorless) in the United States.
• Hot Springs National Park is the only national park in the United States established to promote a holistic approach to health by ensuring public access to geothermal water, the surrounding natural environment, and other public recreational landscapes.
• Hot Springs National Park offers unparalleled opportunities for research of a geothermal hydrologic system that has been geologically stable for 200 million years such as the study of the recently discovered globally unique thermophilic life forms and other yet-to-be-discovered resources.
• The Bathhouse Row National Historic Landmark, which contains the largest collection of early 20th century bathhouses in the United States and the Grand Promenade, showcases the evolving approach to the architectural and landscape design of spa resorts.
• The thermal springs in Hot Springs National Park were the first, and continue to be, the only federally controlled hot springs in the United States to be managed for both public health and consumptive use. Hot Springs National Park is the only unit of the national park system that is mandated to give away its primary natural resource to the general public in an unending and unaltered state.
The purpose of Hot Springs National Park is to protect its
unique geothermal spring water and associated lands for public
health, wellness, and enjoyment.
Interpretive themes are ideas or concepts about Hot Springs National Park that are key to helping visitors gain an understanding of park significance and resources. The themes, which are based on park purpose and significance, provide the basis for interpretive programs and media in the park.
• While Hot Springs National Park protects the quality of the geothermal spring water, it is up to us all to preserve the quantity of the water.
• The thermal water and experiences in the natural environment that originally drew people to the area continue to be key elements to a holistic approach to life, health, and wellness.
• For over 200 years, the mystery of these hot springs has lured people to conduct research and make scientific discoveries that provide a greater understanding of the geothermal system. This fascination with the spring water may also inspire future scientific breakthroughs.
• The impressive cultural landscape of Bathhouse Row evokes the continuum of the American spa experience through history, anchored in the methods and beliefs of the past, yet ever-evolving to meet the needs of modern times.
• The perceived healing value of the geothermal spring water prompted the U.S. government to take unprecedented action that ultimately provided equal access to the water for everyone.
DESCRIPTION OF HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK
Hot Springs National Park is a 5,500-acre park in Hot Springs, Arkansas, that preserves geothermal spring water and resources related to therapeutic bathing. Congress created the park in 1832 when it designated the land as Hot Springs Reservation, making it the first area nationwide to be set aside for protection by the federal government. In 1921, the reservation’s name changed to Hot Springs National Park. Today, Hot Springs National Park preserves and manages its natural and cultural resources for over 1.5 million annual visitors. Located about 55 miles southwest of Little Rock, Hot Springs National Park encompasses mostly forested mountains, but includes a developed urban edge formed by Bathhouse Row, which was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987.
Bathhouse Row is a ¼-mile-long row of eight bathhouse buildings along Central Avenue. It is the most heavily visited part of the park. This area encompasses six acres formally landscaped with open lawns, trees, shrubs, fountains, a formal staircase entrance, a promenade in front of the bathhouses, and a Grand Promenade behind the bathhouses. The Buckstaff Bathhouse and the Administration Building, located at the southern end of the row, are the only structures used for their original purposes. All other bathhouses have been adapted for other uses by either the NPS or private sector partners.
Hot Springs National Park collects and distributes thermal water for use in park buildings and public fountains as well as by area hotels and a local hospital. The park uses an extensive underground collection system that is largely concealed from public view as most of the 47 springs are capped to prevent contamination. Recent studies have shown that the greatest threat to the health of the thermal springs may be from development outside the park as most of the water recharge zone is beyond the park boundary.
1405ft428m
1120ft341m
1100ft335m
1060ft323m
1179ft359m
1209ft369m
70B
7
7s
7
7
70B
270B
270B0.5
0.5
0
0
1 Mile
1 Kilometer
North
Dangerous curvesDrive with caution
Bull
Creek
Bayou
Whittington
Hot S
prin
gs
Cre
ek
Hot Sp
ring
s Creek
Gulpha Creek
Gulpha Creek
Cedar Glades
Road
Cedar Glades Road
Cedar Street
Whittington Avenue
Sunse
t
Trai
l
Sunset Trail
Sunset Trail
CityPark
LindenStreetPark
DeSotoPark
SUGARLOAF M
OUNTAIN
WEST MOUNTAIN
H
OT
SPR
ING
S M
OU
NT
AIN
NORTH
M
OUNTAIN
MUSIC
MOUNTAIN
INDIANMOUNTAIN
BalancedRock
SeeBathhouseRow Map
LeviHospital
Hot Springs Civic andConvention Center andSummit Arena
Hot SpringsMountain Tower
Thermal WaterJug Fountain
HappyHollowSpring
ThermalWater Jug
Fountain
FederalBuilding
Post Office
City VisitorInformation
BusDepot
Libbey MemorialPhysical Medicine Center(closed)
Highest Point in Park
WhittingtonSpring
Park MaintenanceArea
Amphitheater
Shelter
Shelter
Pavilion
Gulpha GorgeCampground
Gulpha GorgePicnic Area
GoatRock
Park
A
venu
e
Cen
tral
A
ven
ue
Ouachita
Ave
nue
Quapaw Ave
nue
Gra
nd
Ave
nue
Grand Avenue
West Mountain
Drive
West Mountain Summit
Drive
Prosp
ect
Avenue
Whitt
ington
Avenue
To
p
Trai
l
Mountain Top Trail
Mou
ntai
n
Gulph
a Gorge Trail
Su
nset T
rail
Broadway
M
alvern Avenue
Spring St
Spring Street
Reserv e St
CITY OFHOT SPRINGS
CITY OFHOT SPRINGS
Hot Springs Creek flows in atunnel under Bathhouse Row
Rese
rv
e Trail
Dead Chief Trail
Short
Cut Tr
ail
Peak
Tra
il
Hot
Spr
ings
Hon
eysu
ckle
Tr
ail
Hot Sp
rings
Mou
ntain
T
rail
Hot Springs M
ou
ntain Drive
Mou
ntai
n T
rail
FountainTrail
FloralTrail
GrandAvenueTrail
ArlingtonTrail
Dogwood Tr
ail (
low
er lo
op)
Dogw
ood
Tra
il
(low
er l
oop)
Gorge Road
To Russellville116km 72mi Stonebridge Road
To Little Rock87km 54mi
To Lake Catherine State Park19km 12mi
ToRace Track 3km 2mi
Lake Hamilton 10km 6mi
ToAirport 3.2km 2mi
Lake Hamilton 8km 5miLake Ouachita State Park 26km 16mi
ToLake Ouachita State Park
West
Mou
ntai
n D
rive
Sunse
t T
rail
Black Snake Road
CanyonTrail
1260ft384m
Goat Rock
Tra
il
(upper loop)
Dogwood Trail
Dogwood Tra
il (upper l
oop)
Dea
d C
hie
f T
rail
West Mountain Trail
West Mountain
Trai
l
Park
Avenue
Oak
T
rail
Nor
th M
tn L
oo
p
National Park Visitor Center
Picnic area
Restrooms
Ranger stationParking areas
Cold springHiking trail
NPS property
Overlook Off street parking is abundant; privately owned parking lots are located across from and to the south of Bathhouse Row.
Wheelchair-accessible
Foundation DocumentHot Springs National Park
CONTACT INFORmATION or write to:Superintendent Hot Springs National Park 101 Reserve StreetHot Springs, AR 71901
For more information about the Hot Springs National Park Foundation Document, contact: hosp_superintendent@nps.gov or 501-623-2824
National Park ServiceU.S. Department of the Interior
Hot Springs National ParkArkansas
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