08/24/2026
Welcome to National Park Week! I’m kicking it off by diving into the unique history and distinct landscape of Hot Springs National Park.
Long before it was officially designated, this rare American landscape drew people to its thermal waters—with rainwater soaking deep into the earth, heating naturally, and resurfacing centuries later. Remarkably, it stands as the oldest protected area in the entire National Park system, set aside by Congress under President Andrew Jackson in 1832—a full forty years before Yellowstone.
From the sweeping, forested overlooks of the Ouachita Mountains down to the ornate, Gilded Age architecture of Bathhouse Row, Hot Springs seamlessly bridges untamed natural beauty with deep cultural history.
(Archival fine art prints of park views like thsee are available for your space via the links in my bio.)