The City That Heals 05.20.25

Moonshine, Soaking, US Expansion, and the Tonifying Effects of Magnesium Rich Water

In the beginning, it was land occupied by the Caddo Tribe. Then Napoleon had has hands on the hot springs rich terrain in what would eventually become the state of Arkansas in the U.S. Between those points in time, the area was overlooked. Just a couple thousand acres rolled up with the Louisiana Purchase.

For a place as legendary as Bathhouse Row, it’s amazing how few have ever heard of its existence. Other than San Francisco and maybe New York City, Hot Springs, Arkansas might have the highest concentration of bathhouses anywhere in the United States. Which reveals something really important about these institutions. They are contextually framed by their region. In New York, bathhouses were mandated by the state for populations greater than 50,000 to address concerns of insufficient plumbing. In the Bay Area, they were large scale entertainment stadiums. First with Sutro’s Palace and then with the Seventies powered dancehalls that became safe havens for homosexuals seeking other men to meet. Eventually, they were vilified and forced to shut down. 

In Arkansas they were just the most obvious evolution of a growing city. Business, baby. Business.

The city that heals had many names but it was always about gathering.