Blue Spring Heritage Center  
Some 500 feet deep, Blue
Spring was an important stop
on the Cherokee Trail of
Tears.
Thorncrown Chapel
An architectural landmark,
Thorncrown combines wood
and glass to blend into its
beautiful natural setting.
EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS
Points of Interest & Historic Sites
Eureka Springs, Arkansas - Points of Interest & Historic Sites
Eureka Springs, Arkansas
The historic Victorian city of Eureka Springs is one
of the top destinations in the South.
Victorian Charm in the Ozarks
One of America's most scenic and charming
communities, Eureka Springs is nestled in
the beautiful Ozarks of Arkansas.

Founded and named in 1879, Eureka
Springs quickly became a major resort
destination as travelers from all over the
country came to drink and soak in the pure
spring waters flowing from the sides of the
Ozark Mountains. Many of the springs still dot
the landscape of the downtown area.

In less than one year, 3,000 people came to
live in Eureka Springs. Elegant homes grew
on the steep hillsides and the downtown
district became the thriving center of what
then was the fourth largest city in Arkansas.

The belief that the springs held medicinal
properties diminished over time, but Eureka
Springs remained an important destination.
Much of the city's beautiful late 19th and early
20th century architecture has been preserved
and the downtown area thrives as a unique
shopping and entertainment district.

Numerous shops, restaurants and places to
stay are available in Eureka Springs, among
them the historic Basin Park Hotel and the
famously haunted Crescent Hotel.

Constructed in 1886, the Crescent Hotel was
popular with the wealthy during the late 19th
century. Guests could stroll the beautifully
land-scaped grounds, dine in elegant
splendor and enjoy activities ranging from
carriage rides to "tea dances."

When the popularity of bathing in mineral
springs faded, however, hard times came to
the beautiful hotel. It fell into the hands of an
eccentric character named Norman Baker or,
as he liked to call himself, "Dr." Norman
Baker.

A radio station owner and former manager of
a "mind reading" show, "Dr." Baker came to
Eureka Springs to promote a secret "cancer
cure."  He called the Crescent his "Castle in
the Air," brought in patients and - for the right
price - subjected them to a variety of strange
procedures.

Desperate patients flocked to the facility and
Federal investigators later determined that
he made more than $4 million peddling his
fake cure. They indicted him for mail fraud in
1939. He was convicted and spent four years
in prison before being released to spend the
rest of his life in comfort in Florida.

Many of those he "treated" were not so
fortunate and employees and guests say that
some still walk the halls of the Crescent
Hotel to this day. It has been featured on the
popular television program Ghost Hunters.

Numerous other places in Eureka Springs
are rumored to be haunted by a wide range
of restless spirits. A variety of ghost tours are
available.

The Eureka Springs Historic District was
listed on the National Register of Historic
Places in 1970 and includes the entire
downtown area. Over twenty different styles of
unique architecture survive, ranging from
Victorian homes to hotels to unusual
storefronts.

Today the population of Eureka Springs
remains at around 3,000, but more than 1.5
million visitors come to the community each
year. A popular destination year-round, it is
considered one of the nation's premier
historic attractions. Even the funnel cake
shop is listed on the National Register of
Historic Places.
Christ of the Ozarks
The massive statue towers
above the grounds of the
Great Passion Play in Eureka
Springs, Arkansas.
Copyright 2012 & 2014 by Dale Cox
All rights reserved.

Last Updated: May 3, 2014
Crescent Hotel
"America's Most Haunted
Hotel" has a rich history and
is famed for the ghosts that
some believe roam its halls.
In addition to its historic significance and
charm, Eureka Springs is the "Wedding
Capital of America." The city hosts more
weddings per capita than any other place in
the country. In fact, more people get married
each year in Eureka Springs than actually live
in the city!

Please click here for our Eureka Springs
Weddings Guide. It provides information on
wedding chapels, ministers and officiants,
florists, photographers, marriage licenses,
accommodations and more.

The area surrounding Eureka Springs is rich
in the scenic beauty, culture and history of the
Ozarks Mountains. The ES&NA Railway is a
great way to see some of that scenery. Its
restored railroad cars leave the station in
Eureka Springs for tours of the countryside.

Another "must see" attraction is the Blue
Spring Heritage Center six miles northwest
of town on Highway 62. A landmark of the
Cherokee Trail of Tears, the spring is 500
feet deep and stunningly beautiful.

About seven miles north of Eureka Springs is
Beaver Bridge. Sometimes called the "Little
Golden Gate" of Arkansas, the historic
suspension bridge spans the White River.

Other attractions in the area include the
Christ of the Ozarks, the Great Passion Play,
Thorncrown Chapel, numerous venues for
live music, great restaurants, mountain
scenery and the nearby Buffalo National
River.

Please click here to learn more about historic
Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
Eureka Springs, Arkansas
The historic Victorian village
in the Ozarks is the wedding
capital of America and a
popular destination.