Arsenic Spring is the northernmost of the springs located along Hot Springs Creek. Historical photos show that the spring emerged at the base of a cliff of tufa. By the late 1800s, a Victorian-era wooden structure was built over the spring.
Despite its name, Arsenic Spring became a favorite drinking spring for nineteenth century visitors, particularly for women. A national publication in the 1870s wrote that Arsenic Spring was “in great repute among the fair sex, who fancy that it improves their complexion.”
Drinking the hot water from springs like Arsenic Spring was an important step in the hot springs treatment for health seekers. Physicians believed the hydrating waters helped flush out toxins. Though temperature and waterflow has changed over the years, in 1901, the water emerged at 134 degrees and 7.5 gal/minute.
Testing showed that it had a similar chemical profile to the other springs. Fortunately, there was no arsenic to be found in the waters.
The water of Arsenic Spring temporarily dried up in the 1880s, when blasting along the base of Hot Springs Mountain interrupted the flow of thermal water.
By 1901, Arsenic Spring was inaccessible underneath the Arlington Hotel. Following the destruction of Arlington Hotel due to fire in the 1920s, the Arsenic Spring was covered by tufa and dirt.
Eventually the spring water was combined into the park’s common collection system. Today’s hot water fountains in the park include the water of Arsenic Spring.
Despite its name, Arsenic Spring became a favorite drinking spring for nineteenth century visitors, particularly for women. A national publication in the 1870s wrote that Arsenic Spring was “in great repute among the fair sex, who fancy that it improves their complexion.”
Drinking the hot water from springs like Arsenic Spring was an important step in the hot springs treatment for health seekers. Physicians believed the hydrating waters helped flush out toxins. Though temperature and waterflow has changed over the years, in 1901, the water emerged at 134 degrees and 7.5 gal/minute.
Testing showed that it had a similar chemical profile to the other springs. Fortunately, there was no arsenic to be found in the waters.
The water of Arsenic Spring temporarily dried up in the 1880s, when blasting along the base of Hot Springs Mountain interrupted the flow of thermal water.
By 1901, Arsenic Spring was inaccessible underneath the Arlington Hotel. Following the destruction of Arlington Hotel due to fire in the 1920s, the Arsenic Spring was covered by tufa and dirt.
Eventually the spring water was combined into the park’s common collection system. Today’s hot water fountains in the park include the water of Arsenic Spring.
Is there something we missed for this itinerary?
Itineraries across USA
Acadia
Arches National Park
Badlands
Big Bend
Biscayne
Black Canyon Of The Gunnison
Bryce Canyon
Canyonlands
Capitol Reef
Carlsbad Caverns
Channel Islands
Congaree
Crater Lake
Cuyahoga Valley
Death Valley
Dry Tortugas
Everglades
Gateway Arch
Glacier
Grand Canyon
Grand Teton
Great Basin
Great Smoky Mountains
Guadalupe Mountains
Haleakalā
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes
Hot Springs
Indiana Dunes
Isle Royale
Joshua Tree
Kenai Fjords
Kobuk Valley
Lassen Volcanic
Mammoth Cave
Mesa Verde
Mount Rainier
North Cascades
Olympic
Petrified Forest
Pinnacles
Rocky Mountain
Saguaro
Shenandoah
Theodore Roosevelt
Virgin Islands
Voyageurs
White Sands
Wind Cave
Yellowstone
Yosemite
Zion