Historical Markers Central Avenue, Hot Springs, Garland County, Arkansas

Hot Springs was originally incorporated as a town prior to the Civil War.  It was again incorporated in 1875.  Raised to a city of the Second Class in 1876, and to a city of the First Class in 1879, when its population surpassed 5,000.  By 1910 it had tripled in size.

Major fires have raged through Hot Springs on three occasions.  The fire of 1878 destroyed almost 150 buildings, including the major portion of the Business District.  The fire of 1905 destroyed 25 blocks of the city's southern section.  The 1918 fire blazed through almost 60 blocks, making it Arkansas' most disastrous fire.

Horse racing had its origins in the early history of Hot Springs.  Farm boys brought their horses into the small settlement to race them prior to the Civil War.  Formal racing began in the 1890's.  The Essex and Oaklawn Tracks began operations in 1904.

Photographed September 10, 2006 by Pris Weathers and Christina Head.

Garland County | Historical Markers One | Two | Three | Four

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