Hot Springs in Garland County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)

The Ostrich Farm

— Hot Springs Central Avenue Historic District —

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 15, 2024

1. The Ostrich Farm Marker

Inscription.
The ostrich farm, located on Whittington Avenue, began operations in 1900 with over 300 ostriches. It was a must on every tourist’s schedule. The ostriches raced, gave rides and pulled small carriages filled with tourists down Central Avenue.

Erected by City of Hot Springs.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Entertainment • Industry & Commerce • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1900.

Location. 34° 31.123′ N, 93° 3.343′ W. Marker is in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in Garland County. It is at the intersection of Central Avenue (State Highway 7) and Whittington Avenue, on the right when traveling north on Central Avenue. The marker is embedded in the sidewalk, beside a streetlamp post. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 101 Central Avenue, Hot Springs National Park AR 71901, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Arkansas’ Ouachita Mountains.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

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the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: “An Open Log Cabin and a Few Huts” (within shouting distance of this marker); Whittington Park (within shouting distance of this marker); 101 Central Avenue (within shouting distance of this marker); The Majestic Hotel (within shouting distance of this marker); 122 (within shouting distance of this marker); 126 (within shouting distance of this marker); Hot Springs' Resort Beginnings (within shouting distance of this marker); Hot Springs' First White Settler (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hot Springs.

Also see . . . Ostrich Farm in Hot Springs (Encyclopedia of Arkanas).

(By Wendy Richter, Ouachita Baptist University) Excerpt: Thomas A. Cockburn brought more than 300 ostriches to Hot Springs and, in 1900, established the Ostrich Farm on the upper
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 15, 2024

2. The Ostrich Farm Marker
Looking west across the Central Avenue & Whittington Avenue intersection. The marker is beside the streetlamp post.
end of Whittington Avenue. Two of Cockburn’s largest ostriches, Black Diamond and Whirlwind, became quite popular. These birds were almost ten feet tall and weighed about 400 pounds. Black Diamond and Whirlwind appeared at Oaklawn Park (now Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort) during most of the Arkansas State Fairs held there from 1906 to 1914. A highly publicized exhibition race was once held between one of the birds and a thoroughbred horse — the ostrich won at short distance, while the horse won at long.
The ostriches produced fashionable feathers that were harvested from the birds twice a year. A shop in Hot Springs sold the feathers, and an even larger market existed among milliners around the country until demand declined during World War II.
Thomas Cockburn died in 1936, but the Ostrich Farm operated until 1953.

(Submitted on January 5, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on January 5, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 4, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 248 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 5, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.