Hot Springs National Park in Garland County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)
Mountain Towers
Hot Springs National Park
Photographed By James Hulse, September 29, 2023
1. Mountain Towers Marker
Inscription.
Mountain Towers. Hot Springs National Park. In 1877, Enoch Woolman built a wooden observation tower on Hot Springs Mountain that was 80 feet tall. The tower became a popular attraction with the public and rewarded visitors with picturesque views of the surrounding area. Sometime between 1885 and 1895, the Woolman Tower was struck by lightning and burned to the ground. In 1906, the Woolman Tower was replaced with a steel tower by Arkansas National Bank President Charles N. Rix., The new observation tower, or Rix Tower, was 165 feet tall, included an Otis elevator, and was equipped with a high powered telescope. The total cost to erect the Rix Tower was $20,000. In 1971, it was declared unsafe and was dismantled. The current Hot Springs Mountain Tower opened its doors to the public on June 3, 1983. It stands 216 feet tall and cost over $1.5 million to build., Caption , Lower Right: This 1884 drawing of the Enoch Woolman structure depicts the first observation tower to be built on Hot Springs Mountain.
In 1877, Enoch Woolman built a wooden observation tower on Hot Springs Mountain that was 80 feet tall. The tower became a popular attraction with the public and rewarded visitors with picturesque views of the surrounding area. Sometime between 1885 and 1895, the Woolman Tower was struck by lightning and burned to the ground. In 1906, the Woolman Tower was replaced with a steel tower by Arkansas National Bank President Charles N. Rix.
The new observation tower, or Rix Tower, was 165 feet tall, included an Otis elevator, and was equipped with a high powered telescope. The total cost to erect the Rix Tower was $20,000. In 1971, it was declared unsafe and was dismantled. The current Hot Springs Mountain Tower opened its doors to the public on June 3, 1983. It stands 216 feet tall and cost over $1.5 million to build.
Caption Lower Right: This 1884 drawing of the Enoch Woolman structure depicts the first observation tower to be built on Hot Springs Mountain.
Erected by National Park Service, US Department of the interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical date for this entry is June 3, 1983.
Location. 34° 31.052′ N, 93° 2.751′ W. Marker
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is in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in Garland County. It is in Hot Springs National Park. Marker is on Hot Springs Mountain Drive, on the left when traveling east. The marker is located at the entrance to the Hot Springs Mountain Tower. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 401 Hot Springs Mountain Drive, Hot Springs National Park AR 71901, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 13, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 13, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 83 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on October 13, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
