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

First Circuit Court Site

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 13, 2024

1. First Circuit Court Site Marker

Inscription. This tablet marks the spot on which the first Circuit Court was held after Garland County was formed May 26, 1873.

Erected 1934 by Hot Springs of Arkansas Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Law Enforcement • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is May 26, 1873.

Location. 34° 30.719′ N, 93° 3.251′ W. Marker is in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in Garland County. It is on Central Avenue (State Highway 7) just north of Court Street, on the right when traveling south. The marker is mounted at eye-level on the building at this location today, at the left/south edge of the front facade. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 520 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

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Hemisphere,

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: Alerted at the Arlington (here, next to this marker); The Roosevelts in Hot Springs (within shouting distance of this marker); Bathhouse Row (within shouting distance of this marker); “We Bathe the World” (within shouting distance of this marker); Buckstaff Bathhouse (within shouting distance of this marker); U.S. Park Ranger James Alexander Cary (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Bathhouse Row (within shouting distance of this marker); Lamar Bathhouse (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hot Springs.

Also see . . . Garland County Courthouse (Encyclopedia of Arkansas).

(By Nancy Hendricks, Garland County Historical Society) Excerpt: After the Civil War, Hot Springs grew into one of the nation’s leading health
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 13, 2024

2. First Circuit Court Site Marker
The marker is mounted at the left/south edge of the facade.
resorts. At that time, the county seat of Hot Spring County was in Rockport, a day-long trip for the citizens of Hot Springs. They urged the Arkansas General Assembly to create a new county, which would allow them easier access to their county seat. The new county — established in 1873 from segments of Hot Spring, Montgomery, and Saline counties — was named for Governor Augustus H. Garland.
Hot Springs was chosen as the seat of government for Garland County. The first session of the Garland County Quorum Court met in 1873 in a storehouse downtown on Central Avenue. Meetings were then held at various locations until the court convened regularly at Hot Springs City Hall from 1879 through 1882.

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

First Circuit Court Site image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 14, 2024

3. First Circuit Court Site

Looking northwest across Central Avenue; the marker is mounted on the left/south edge of the facade of the building at this location.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 6, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 4, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 187 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 5, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.