Grotto Spring
The words "esto perpetua" emblazoned upon a stone above the entrance to Grotto Spring declare the prevailing belief that these healing waters would flow forth forever. Early townspeople discovered the spring under an overhanging rock ledge, a short distance from the well-known Dairy Spring.
Extensive street construction on "The Boulevard", as Spring Street was then called, began in 1890. This necessitated construction of an enclosure of limestone and ornamental stonework hand-worked by very skilled stonemasons. Grotto Springs was located only a few steps from the electric streetcar line.
Some of the first ordinances enacted by city government were to protect the springs for public use in perpetuity. The wooded area on the hillside above and around the spring is delineated by ordinance that appears to be Oak or Sheffield Spring described in Ordinance No. 81, dated February 15, 1886. The Sheffield family resided nearby in 1880 and may have operated the original dairy for which the hollow below this site was named.
Erected by Greater Eureka Springs Chamber of Commerce and the Community Development Partnership.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is February 15, 1899.
Location.
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Bridgeford House (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Crescent Hotel & Spa (approx. 0.2 miles away); Avarana (approx. ¼ mile away); The Town that Water Built (approx. ¼ mile away); The Brownstone Inn (approx. ¼ mile away); The Round House (approx. ¼ mile away); Crescent Spring and Trail (approx. ¼ mile away); Carnegie Library (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Eureka Springs.
Also see . . .
1. The Historic Springs of Eureka Springs, Arkansas. (Submitted on January 4, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Eureka Springs History. (Submitted on January 4, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. Eureka Springs at Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture. (Submitted on January 4, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on September 3, 2020. It was originally submitted on January 4, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,122 times since then and 117 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 4, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 5. submitted on January 5, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 6. submitted on January 4, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
