Hot Springs, Spa town in Garland County, Arkansas, United States
Hot Springs is a city in Garland County, Arkansas, located at the base of the Ouachita Mountains. Eight historic bathhouses line Central Avenue in the downtown core, forming part of the protected Hot Springs National Park.
Congress protected the thermal springs in 1832, establishing the first federally reserved land in the nation. After the Civil War, the town grew as a spa destination, with bathhouses opening along Central Avenue to accommodate visitors.
The city maintains a strong connection to baseball history as numerous Major League teams conducted spring training at Whittington Park from 1908 through 1955.
Several bathhouses along Central Avenue welcome visitors and offer tours through their historic rooms. The national park grounds can be explored on foot, and trails on Hot Springs Mountain provide views over the surrounding hills.
The Army and Navy Hospital used thermal waters to treat military personnel from its opening in 1933 until it closed in 1960. Major League Baseball teams held spring training at Whittington Park from 1908 through 1955, giving the town a lasting connection to the sport.
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