Hot Springs in Garland County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)
Purdum-Rainwater House
808 Quapaw Avenue
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 13, 2024
1. Purdum-Rainwater House Marker
National Register
of Historic Places
by the United States
Department of the Interior
1923
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1923.
Location. 34° 30.218′ N, 93° 3.882′ W. Marker is in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in Garland County. It is on Quapaw Avenue just east of Fern Street, on the left when traveling east. The marker is mounted at eye-level, directly on the subject building, on the left side of the front/south entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 808 Quapaw 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, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Tarleton-Wall House (a few steps from this marker); William H. Martin House (within shouting distance of this marker); Garland County Courthouse (approx. 0.4 miles away); Walter Beauchamp House (approx. 0.4 miles away); Hot Springs Baseball Grounds (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Ed. B. Mooney Tree (approx. 0.4 miles away); Orange Street Presbyterian Church (approx. half a mile away); Central Methodist Church (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hot Springs.
Regarding Purdum-Rainwater House. Contributing property, Quapaw-Prospect Historic District, National Register of Historic Places № 99000821.
From the National Register Nomination prepared by Marty Dalby (edited by Kara Mills Oosterhous), 6/20/1999:
The Quapaw-Prospect Historic District is a predominately residential neighborhood encompassing approximately nine blocks. The district possesses a strong sense of integrity as a residential neighborhoodcomprised of houses constructed between circa 1890 to circa 1940. The historic residential neighborhood remains remarkably intact, displaying an ensemble of late nineteenth and early twentieth-century homes - the finest of this era surviving in the city of Hot Springs. Variations of architectural styles such as Queen Anne, Classical Revival, Colonial Revival, Spanish Revival and Craftsman are well represented in the district. The importance of this neighborhood's high degree of preservation is underscored by the fact that it remains the closest historic residential area to Central Avenue, the equally historic commercial core of downtown Hot Springs. The Quapaw-Prospect Historic District is the earliest and best intact example of a residential area that was built to house many of the people who either owned downtown businesses or worked there.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 13, 20242. Purdum-Rainwater House MarkerThe marker is mounted on the left side of the front entrance.Also contributing to the overall historic feeling of the district is the visual continuity that is provided by the wide, tree-lined streets, many of which still retain original curbing. Oaks, Maples, Magnolias, and Dogwood trees are located throughout the neighborhood and were either in existence before the area was developed or they were planted as the homes were built as part of the designed landscape. The large present-day lots are evidence of the original design or layout of the neighborhood as they have retained their original dimensions throughout the years. The integrity of design is further validated by the fact that nowhere in the area has there been a subdivision of lots. Many prominent leaders of Hot Springs have lived in or are still living in the neighborhood. There are several architectural styles represented, with the Colonial Revival and Bungalow/Craftsman styles dominating the area.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 13, 2024
3. Purdum-Rainwater House (southwest elevation)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 13, 2024
4. Purdum-Rainwater House (south/front elevation)
From the National Register Nomination: The Purdom House at 808 Quapaw Avenue is an example of Colonial Revival architecture. Side-gabled roofs over simple, two-story rectangular blocks are representative features. Broken pediments over entrances typify this style. The windows are rectangular in shape with double-hung sashes and have multiple panes.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 20, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 153 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 20, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
