5 Best Sights in Hot Springs, Arkansas

On 210 acres of woodland bordering Lake Hamilton (accessible by car or boat), this site was clear-cut for timber a century ago, and it wasn't until the mid-1950s that it was considered as a possible homesite by Verna Cook Garvan and her husband, Francis Patrick Garvan Jr. Instead, Verna devoted 40 years to creating the footprint for what has become her legacy—a world-class botanical garden, complete with thousands of species of heritage flora and fauna, a series of unique bridges, waterfalls and walking paths, a children's adventure garden, plus a magnificent wood-and-glass chapel and complementary pavilion designed by the renowned architectural firm of E. Fay Jones.

Soak up Hot Springs’ rich history on a free, self-guided tour of the largest and most opulent bathhouse on Bathhouse Row. The Fordyce, which operated from 1915 to 1962, is now the park's visitor center and museum, where you can pick up trail maps, speak with helpful park employees, and get an insightful glimpse into the Golden Age of bathing. Extensively restored, the Fordyce features marble throughout, beautiful stained-glass ceilings, period rooms, and hydrotherapy equipment dating from the early 20th century. A 15-minute video in the first-floor theater covers area history; a shorter video shown on the second floor details the traditional bathing regimen.

Overlooking some 140 square miles, this 216-foot tall, elevator-accessible tower at the summit of its namesake mountain provides sweeping views of the park and the Ouachita Mountains. The tower is open daily and has an open-air observation deck; an enclosed, lower-level deck with exhibits on area history; and a ground-level gift shop.

The bubbling opulence of Hot Springs during the Roaring Twenties was fueled in part by a notorious undercurrent of legalized gambling. Your museum gallery guide will separate fact from fiction as you learn about this unique era in America history that for decades defined the character of America's First Resort.