The Fordyce Bathhouse is run by the National Park Service.  It is free.  When we walked in, a ranger behind the desk said “Welcome to the Fordyce”.  They directed us to a short film and then we went on a free ranger guided tour.

One of the most beautiful aspects of this Victorian Renaissance style building is the stained glass work.

Not just in the windows, but also in the ceiling.

This is the packing room.  Here attendants would run the towels under the tap, ring them out and place them on patients as they lay down on these beds.

Private bathing rooms, with men separated from women, allowed the patient to immerse themselves in the Hot Springs’ healing waters.

I more therapy was needed, this room provided an alternating hot and cold therapy, a “pin” shower where water was directed at specific parts of the anatomy, an enema table, and…

 … an electro-shock therapy tub.  Here, copper electrodes connected to the controls on the wall would actually be immersed in the bath. Our guide described how the patient would have to grab onto the rim of the tub.

Our ranger guide described how after therapy, guests would relax in the sun room.  In this room, men and women still were segregated, with men on one side with a billiards table and women on the other with a piano.  This room was also called the Music Room.

Those afflicted with paralysis were lowered into their bath on this bed and then there was a rail system in the ceiling where the bed could be wheeled out to the Sun Room.

There was also a large fully equipped gym. 

Tickets for a number of baths could be bought at a time and then used during their stay.

A room full of Zander Machines which were an early version of our modern day workout equipment.

A room for all things foot related.  Foot massage, pedicure, corn and bunion treatment.

A women’s Beauty Parlor

And men’s and women’s Massage Rooms.

It was amazing to see how this place worked and how seriously health and healing was regarded in this town at the height of it’s hayday.  Even though some of the treatments might now be considered ghoulish, it was obvious to us that people came here to relax and rejuvenate their mind, body and spirit.