Eureka Springs - The per capita Wedding Capital of America

Eureka Springs, Arkansas

It often comes as a surprise visitors that the quaint Victorian town of Eureka Springs, Arkansas, hosts more weddings per capita than any city in the United States.

In fact, some years more people get married in Eureka Springs than actually live there! So I thought in honor of Valentine's Day it would be enjoyable to take a look at this charming community in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas.

Eureka Springs has always been a special place. The first visitors came back in the late 19th century when dozens of mineral springs were found flowing from the sides of the mountains there. The town was founded in 1877 and in less than one year more than 3,000 people came to live in Eureka.

Historic Downtown of Eureka Springs

They came because of the popularity of mineral springs in those days. People believed the pure water provided cures for a variety of illnesses and the arrival of the railroad brought crowds in to enjoy the spas, hotels and other amenities of the resort community in the Ozarks.

The belief in the power of water from mineral springs diminished in the 20th century, but unlike many such places, Eureka Springs preserved its beautiful atmosphere and architecture. It stands today as one of the most beautifully preserved Victorian towns in the world. The romance of days gone by is unmistakable and the town offers beautiful historic accommodations, restaurants, shops and entertainment. Carriages roll through the streets and couples walk hand in hand along the sidewalks.

Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs

And there are weddings. More weddings than can be imagined. There is no blood test and no waiting to get married in Eureka Springs. A couple can arrive, get their license, get married and be on their honeymoon in a beautiful historic hotel, bed and breakfast or more modern accommodation in less than 90 minutes.

An array of wedding locations are available, ranging from the simple to the elegant, or one of the town's many ministers will come to you and perform a wedding at the location of your choice. An overlook on East Mountain, for example, provides a spectacular view of the valley and Victorian town and is popular for couples looking to marry surrounded by the beauty of the mountains.

To learn more about Eureka Springs, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/eurekaindex.

For complete information on getting married in Eureka Springs, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/eurekaweddings.

Historic Springs of Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Eureka Springs, Arkansas

The landscape of the South is dotted with towns and cities named after springs. There are Hot Springs, Warm Springs, Boiling Springs, Old Town Spring, Spring Hill, Winter Springs, Mineral Springs, Sylvan Springs, Holly Springs and the list goes on and on.
One of the most beloved such communities, however, is Eureka Springs. Located high in the mountains of the Ozarks, Eureka Springs is the number one wedding location per capita in the nation. More people go there to get married each year than actually live in the town.

Crescent Spring in Eureka Springs

Known for its beautiful scenery, inns, hotels, bed & breakfast inns, resorts, restaurants and unique shopping, Eureka Springs has done a marvelous job of preserving and restoring the historic springs that give the town its name.

A surprisingly large number of natural, mineral springs flow from the mountainsides surrounding the town. These springs were considered a source of health-giving mineral waters during the 19th century. Those were the days when crowds of people flooded to Eureka Springs to soak in its spring waters in hopes of finding miracle cures for physical and neurological illnesses.

Grotto Spring in Eureka Springs

The belief in the curative power of mineral springs faded in the 20th century, but Eureka Springs preserved its historic springs and today they add greatly to the charm of the beautiful Victorian community.

Probably the best known and photographed of the springs in Basin Spring, which is the centerpiece of a charming little park in the downtown area. Crescent Spring, down the mountain from the magnificent Crescent Hotel, is covered by a restored Victorian gazebo. A stone stairway leads up the mountain to the historic hotel itself.

Nearby is Grotto Spring, which flows from a natural grotto in the mountainside. History lovers also flock to Carrie Nation Spring, a natural spring that flows from the mountain across the road from the home of Carrie Nation, the famed ax-toting liquor fighter of the Prohibition era.

To learn more about Eureka Springs, its historic springs and other points of interest, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/eurekaindex.

Eureka Springs, Arkansas - Romance in the Ozarks

With St. Valentine's Day just two weeks away, I thought it might be interesting to spend some time exploring some of the most romantic historic places in the South.

My personal favorite is Eureka Springs, the beautifully preserved Victorian community in the Ozarks of Arkansas. On a per capita basis, Eureka Springs is the wedding capital of the United States. More people get married there each year per capita than in any other city in the country (including Las Vegas!).

There is a reason. With its charming scenery, inns, restaurants and beautiful Victorian architecture, Eureka Springs is one of the most beautiful places not just in the South, but in the world. Even the town's funnel cake stand is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Established as a health resort during the late 1800s, Eureka Springs developed as a place where people came to "take the waters" of the city's numerous mineral springs. It was thought in those days that the spring water held curative properties for a variety of ailments and people from across the nation came in by train in hopes of finding better health and happiness in the spas of Eureka Springs.

Its early days have much to do with Eureka's emergence as an eclectic community with a major focus on the arts, culture, history and charm. In fact, romance makes for booming business in Eureka Springs. There are wedding chapels, wedding locations, photographers galore, carriages, inns, cottages, cabins and hotels. You can even pick up your marriage license in the morning and get married in the afternoon.

To learn more, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/eurekaindex. Be sure to follow the links at the bottom of the page for information on a variety of historic sites around Eureka as well as for details on wedding services available in the city.

Summer Escapes #8 - Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Nestled in the beautiful rolling hills and mountains of the Arkansas Ozarks, Eureka Springs is a major summer destination for visitors from around the world.

The charming little town literally drips with Victorian history and charm and is the per capita wedding capital of the nation. More people get married in Eureka Springs each year, in fact, than actually live in the town.

Founded as a resort community during the late 1800s to serve guests who came in hopes that the numerous springs flowing from the Ozarks held curative powers. Numerous bathhouses were built and the magnificent Crescent Hotel dates back to those days as well. Much of the downtown architecture is beautifully preserved and the entire downtown district thrives with specialty shops, inns, restaurants, galleries and more.

Eureka Springs is home to what may well be America's "most haunted" hotel. The historic Crescent Hotel was built in 1886 and, as it does today, originally welcomed guests. During the early 1900s, however, it was converted into a fraudulent "cancer clinic" by the notorious "Dr." Norman Baker. He bilked his patients of over $4 million for a fake cancer cure, watching many of them die in the process. It is said that many of their restless spirits still roam the halls of the hotel to this day.

Eureka Springs is also home to numerous other attractions including the Blue Spring Heritage Center, the ES&NA Railway, Thorncrown Chapel and many others. To learn more, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/eurekaindex.

Riding the Rails in the Ozarks

Like most Americans with a love of history, I am fascinated by trains.

In my travels across the South over the years, I've always made a point of seeking out railroad museums and excursion trains. I guess in a way they remind me of the days when passenger trains stopped in every town and were an important part of daily life. All of that is gone now and I think our country lost something in the process.

Two of my favorite railroad exhibits can be found about one and one-half hours apart in Branson, Missouri, and Eureka Springs, Arkansas.

Branson is home to the Branson Scenic Railway. This outstanding railway takes visitors from the depot in downtown Branson for beautiful excursions through the Ozark Mountains. The railway's train, the restored "Ozark Zephyr," follows a functioning line that was built between 1902 and 1905. The train features a variety of passenger cars and passengers can move from one to the other as the train is underway. Please click here to learn more.

In Eureka Springs can be found the ES&NA Railway. Operating from the depot on North Main Street (Highway 23 North), the Eureka Springs train takes passengers on a much shorter ride than the Branson one, but is still a fun ride. It travels from Eureka Springs north into the mountains, recreating the days when passenger cars were the way to travel. Please click here to learn more.

By the way, if you haven't checked out the main page at http://www.exploresouthernhistory.com/ lately, I hope you'll take a few minutes to check it out. The site has grown by leaps and bounds and I think you would enjoy seeing all the new locations that have been added.

Eureka Springs, Arkansas: Updated Pages Now Online

Eureka Springs, a beautiful Victorian town in the Ozarks of Arkansas, is one of the most popular Spring destinations in the South.

To mark the beginning of Spring, we've updated our Eureka Springs pages and added quite a bit of new information.

Founded and named in 1879 as a resort area for visitors who made their way to the beautiful mountain setting to enjoy the mineral springs that flowed from the Ozarks into a charming valley, Eureka Springs retains much of its original appearance and flavor. The community has earned a reputation as the per capita Wedding Capital of the United States. More people come to Eureka each year to get married than actually live there!

Historic hotels, bed and breakfast inns, cabins, restaurants, wedding chapels, entertainment venues and a wide variety of other attractions are available in Eureka Springs, which may well be the crown jewel of the Ozarks.

Our updated pages include details on the historic Crescent Hotel (America's Most Haunted Hotel), Blue Spring Heritage Center, the Christ of the Ozarks, the Downtown Historic District, ES&NA Railway, the town's historic springs, Pivot Rock Park, Thorncrown Chapel and a new page providing information on getting married in Eureka Springs. To learn more, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/eurekaindex.

America's Most Haunted Hotel - Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Whether you believe in such things or not, there is no doubt that most Southerners enjoy a good ghost story.

One of the best places to hear some unique ones is at the beautiful and historic Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Built in 1886 to cater to a rich and elite clientel that came to the mineral water spas for which the city was once famous, the Crescent featured beautifully landscaped grounds, elegant dining, carriage rides and even "tea dances."

As America's fascination with the supposedly curative powers of spring water faded, however, the hotel fell on hard times. By the late 1930s, it was in the hands of "Dr." Norman Baker, a radio station owner and former manager of a "mind reading show." Baker came to Eureka Springs to convert the Crescent into an elegant medical facility where he performed a variety of unusual procedures on patients who came to willingly pay for an alleged "cancer cure" that he promoted far and wide. It was, of course, a fraud.

Indicted on Federal mail fraud charges, Baker was sentenced to prison at Leavenworth. During his trial it was revealed that, despite the fact that it operated during the darkest days of the Great Depression, he cleared an estimated $4,000,000 at his pseudo-medical facility.

Once again a beautiful and romantic hotel that overlooks the charming Victorian city, the Crescent Hotel is a focal point for ghost stories, many of which revolve around the structure's association with "Dr." Baker. Some have proclaimed it as "America's Most Haunted Hotel." To learn more, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/crescenthotel.

Blue Spring Heritage Center - Eureka Springs, Arkansas

One of the most beautiful spots in the South is a deep, clear, blue spring just outside of Eureka Springs, Arkansas.

Now the focal point of the Blue Spring Heritage Center and once known as Eureka Gardens, Blue Spring is nestled in a charming and historic setting. One of the deepest springs in Arkansas, Blue Spring is known to be over 500 feet deep.

Surrounded by beautifully landscaped grounds, the spring is particularly beautiful in spring and will open for the season on Sunday, March 15. The admission price is $7.25 for adults, $4 for students ages 10-17. Children under 10 are admitted free.

Blue Spring has been a point of interest for thousands of years. Archaeologists have discovered evidence of the oldest known human habitation in Arkansas beneath a rock shelter overlooking the spring. Hundreds of Cherokee camped there on the Trail of Tears during the 1830s and both soldiers and guerrilla raiders drank water from the spring during the Civil War.

To learn more about this beautiful park and heritage center near Eureka Springs in Northwest Arkansas, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/eureka3.

Southern Ghosts Part Two - The Crescent Hotel, Arkansas

It is said to the "America's Most Haunted Hotel."

Rising from a mountaintop in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, this beautiful historic inn is well worth a visit just for its unique history and spectacular views. But if you enjoy a good ghost story, then it is definitely for you.

Construction on the Crescent Hotel began in 1886 and it operated as a hotel for its first 15 years, catering to visitors that came from across the nation to "take the waters" of the springs and spas of Eureka Springs. Many believed the natural mineral water held curative powers and the Crescent provided them a place to stay in style while they visited the resort community.

Hard times fell on the community, though, and the Crescent fell into disrepair. Then came the era from which most of the ghost stories originate. The Crescent was acquired by Norman Baker or, as he liked to term himself, "Dr. Norman Baker."

Baker was a former mind reader that also claimed to have developed a cancer cure. He set up shop in the Crescent Hotel, inviting patients across the country to come and partake of his "cure." Many died and the hotel became notorious for the strange goings on there. Baker was ultimately indicted for mail fraud and spend many years in Federal prison before retiring to Florida.

According to local legend, though, many of his patients still linger in the halls and rooms of the Crescent Hotel. The hotel is notorious for its ghost sightings and has been the focus of numerous investigations, some of which have produced video and photographs of strange figures and other unusual things.

To learn more about the Crescent Hotel and Eureka Springs in general, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/eurekaindex.

Spring Travel Part Six: Roaring River State Park

This is part six of a continuing spring travel series on some of my favorite spots of historic interest in the South.

Roaring River State Park is one of the most absolutely beautiful places I've ever seen. Located just outside of Cassville, Missouri, the park is only 20 miles from Eureka Springs, Arkansas and 50 miles from Branson, Missouri.

The Roaring River rises here, from a spring deep within a cave in the park. Walkways lead visitors up to the mouth of the picturesque cave and the crystal clear water is stunning. A noted trout fishing haven, the park is home to a fishery where visitors can see thousands of trout in all stages of growth. The river itself is so clear that the fish can be seen from dozens of yards away.

Historically, Roaring River contains important Native American sites and the locations of early mills. The park also contains a beautiful array of historic Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) constructed structures dating from the Great Depression.

To learn more about this beautiful state park located in the Ozarks of Missouri, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/roaring1.

Spring Travel Part Two: Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Eureka Springs, a beautiful Victorian community nestled in the rolling Ozark hills of Northwest Arkansas, is one of the most beloved destinations in the South.

Founded during the late 1800s as a health resort, Eureka Springs today offers a wide variety of historic sites, beautiful architecture, restored springs as well as an array of unique restaurants, bed and breakfast inns, historic hotels and more.

The entire downtown area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, for good reason. There are few communities from the late 1800s that are as well preserved as Eureka Springs.

To learn more about Eureka Springs, Arkansas, including some of its resident ghosts, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/eurekaindex.

Roaring River State Park - Cassville, Missouri

One of the most beautiful natural and historic settings in the Ozarks can be found at Roaring River State Park near Cassville, Missouri.

This strikingly beautiful state park is only 20 miles from Eureka Springs and about 50 miles from Branson, two of the most popular destinations in the South.

Covering thousands of acres of beautiful mountain and valley scenery, the park is centered around Roaring River Spring. The 20th largest spring in Missouri, Roaring River Spring flows from a fascinating cavern and forms one of the most popular trout fishing streams in the Ozarks.

To learn more about this beautiful Missouri state park, visit our new Roaring River page. You can access it by visiting www.exploresouthernhistory.com. Just follow either the Branson, Missouri or Eureka Springs, Arkansas heading and you will find a link for Roaring River State Park.

Natural Bridge - Eureka Springs, Arkansas

This unique formation is one of several fascinating natural features at Pivot Rock Park in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.

Encompassing a large parcel of beautiful mountain country in the Ozarks, the park features the small natural bridge seen here, as well as Pivot Rock, the unusual formation that gives the park its name.

According to legend, this area was one of the hideouts of the notorious outlaw Jesse James and his gang.

To read more about Pivot Rock Park and other points of interest around Eureka Springs, please click here and look for the Eureka Springs heading.

New Eureka Springs, Arkansas Section is now online!

Eureka Springs, Arkansas, is - quite simply - one of the most charming little cities in America. Its historic significance, eclectic atmosphere and beautiful Victorian architecture bring hundreds of thousands of visitors it year, making it one of the most popular historic destinations in the South.

In addition, Eureka is the romance capital of America and the home of the nation's "most haunted" hotel. More couples get married here (per capita) than in any other city in America. The total number of weddings here each year, in fact, usually exceeds the total population of the city! In addition, the city's historic Crescent Hotel makes for an elegant but spooky treat.

To learn more about Eureka Springs, the stunning Victorian city of the Ozarks, please go to www.exploresouthernhistory.com and you will see the new heading on the home page.

War Eagle Mill - Northwest Arkansas

One of the most scenic historic attractions in Arkansas is the War Eagle Mill. Located just 12 miles east of Rogers and 25 miles southwest of Eureka Springs, the mill and adjacent War Eagle Bridge are among the state's most unique historic sites.

In addition, War Eagle Mill is the site of one of the largest and best known Arts and Craft Fairs in the South.

Our new War Eagle Mill page is now online at www.exploresouthernhistory.com. Just follow the link and look for the link under Arkansas in the Index section at the bottom of the page.

Thorncrown Chapel - Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Thorncrown Chapel, the beautifully constructed structure that you see here, is one of the most awe-inspiring landmarks in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.

Designed by the noted architect E. Fay Jones, who passed away in 2004, the chapel was named one of the top five buildings of the 20th century by the American Institute of Architects.

The chapel includes more than 6,000 square feet of glass and was designed and constructed to blend with its spectacular mountain setting.

Our new Thorncrown Chapel page is now online at www.exploresouthernhistory.com. Just click here to take a look!