Indian Legends And Victorian Bath Houses The History Of Eureka Springs

Indian Legends And Victorian Bath Houses The History Of Eureka Springs

Indian Legends And Victorian Bath Houses The History Of Eureka Springs

Today the Arkansas resort town of Eureka Springs is a quaint, fake-Victorian tourist trap with an abundance of Biblical-themed attractions. But the shops and family-friendly dinner theaters of knickknacks are actually a natural result of a long history as a "vacation" destination that reaches back to Native Americans.

Eureka Springs has, unsurprisingly, several naturally occurring, mineral-rich springs that have long been believed to have healing powers. In 1856 a European settler named Dr. Alva Jackson used some of the water from Eureka Springs to "cure" an unspecified eye ailment suffered by his son, in his own words to Indian legends. The disease was cured and the water of the spring was given the credit for the recovery of his son. This led to the establishment of Dr. Jackson's Cave Hospital, where many young people were "treated" with Eureka's spring water during the American Civil War, and later Dr. Jackson's Eye Water Business Post-Bellam.

In 1879, a friend of Dr. Jackson, Judge J.B. Saunders visited Basin Spring in Eureka, where he had reportedly recovered from some sort of degenerative disease. Encouraged by the improvement in his ill health, the influential judge began campaigning Eureka Springs nationwide. The city of Eureka Springs was home to 10,000 people before the end of the year, and by 1881 it was the fourth largest city in Arkansas.

Eureka Springs soon became famous for its luxurious bathrooms. Basin Spring Bath House was built on Main Street in 1889; It was 4 storeys high, with a bridge across the street for the top 2 floors and provided housing for the water pipes. Water from Harding Spring was used in the 1901 Palace Hotel's bathhouse, and every room had an electric elevator, electric lighting, and steam-heating, making it the turn of the century equivalent of a 5-star hotel. Visitors to the inns and other bath houses can step out of their union suites for hot or cold or a shower, massage or a variety of baths: hot air, electric, medicinal, radiant, vapor and more. The Palace and Basin House still stand today.

As the 20th century began to turn its big, bloody, iron wheels into motion, interest in mysticism began to dwindle, and this included a belief in "healing water". More sideshows than main events began to take place in the springs, and most bath houses were closed.

But Eureka Springs hung there, keeping pace with the times, to remain one of Arkansas' premier tourist destinations. Sure, no one comes to recover, but now they come to get married. Eureka Springs has become the Las Vegas of the Ozarks when it comes to fast marriages (no blood tests required), with more than 4,000 marriages taking place each year. Plus, there are plenty of shopping opportunities for those who shop and enjoy the holidays. For the faithful, it's worth the trip to Eureka Springs to see the 70-foot-tall statue of Jesus, called the Christ of the Ozarks, that soars above the city. Eureka Springs has been packing them for over 150 years, now. Who can say why people will come 150 more?