Editing Hot Springs, Arkansas (section)

==History==
[[File:ChrisLitherlandQuapaw.jpg|thumb|upright|The Quapaw Bathhouse, along Hot Springs' famed "Bathhouse Row"]]

===Settlement===
Members of many [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] tribes had been gathering in the valley for untold numbers of years to enjoy the healing properties of the thermal springs.<ref name="Lund">{{cite web |last1=Lund |first1=John W. |title=Historical Impacts of Geothermal Resources on the People of North America |url=https://oregontechsfstatic.azureedge.net/sitefinity-production/docs/default-source/geoheat-center-documents/quarterly-bulletin/vol-16/art2.pdf?sfvrsn=4b3f8d60_4 |publisher=Geo-Heat Center Bulletin Vol 16, No. 4 |page=10 |accessdate=April 14, 2021}}</ref><ref name="NPS">{{cite web |title=American Indians at Hot Springs National Park |url=https://www.nps.gov/hosp/learn/historyculture/upload/nativeamericansandhotsprings.pdf |publisher=U.S. National Park Service |access-date=April 14, 2021}}</ref>

In 1673, [[Father Marquette]] and [[Louis Jolliet|Jolliet]] explored the area and claimed it for [[France]]. The [[Treaty of Paris (1763)|1763 Treaty of Paris]] ceded the land to Spain; however, in 1800 control was returned to France until the [[Louisiana Purchase]] of 1803.

In December 1804, George Hunter and William Dunbar made an expedition to the springs, finding a lone [[log cabin]] and a few rudimentary shelters used by people visiting the springs for their healing properties. In 1807, a man named Prudhomme became the first settler of modern Hot Springs, and he was soon joined by John Perciful and Isaac Cates.

On August 24, 1818, the [[Quapaw]] Native Americans ceded the land around the hot springs to the United States in a treaty. After Arkansas became its own territory in 1819, the [[Arkansas Territorial Legislature]] requested in 1820 that the springs and adjoining mountains be set aside as a federal reservation. Twelve years later, in 1832, the Hot Springs Reservation was created by the [[United States Congress]], granting federal protection of the thermal waters. The reservation was renamed Hot Springs National Park in 1921.

===Civil War===
The outbreak of the [[American Civil War]] left Hot Springs with a declining bathing population.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cityhs.net/DocumentCenter/View/183/History?bidId= |title=Archived copy |website=www.cityhs.net |access-date=January 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803232143/https://www.cityhs.net/DocumentCenter/View/183/History?bidId= |archive-date=August 3, 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref> After the [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] forces suffered defeat in the [[Battle of Pea Ridge]] in March 1862, the [[Union Army|Union]] troops advanced toward the Confederate city of [[Little Rock, Arkansas|Little Rock]]. Confederate Governor [[Henry M. Rector]] moved his staff and state records to Hot Springs. Union forces did not attack Little Rock, and the government returned to the capital city on July 14, 1862.

Many residents of Hot Springs fled to [[Texas]] or [[Louisiana]] and remained there until the end of the war. In September 1863, Union forces occupied Little Rock. During this period, Hot Springs became the prey of [[guerrilla]] bands loosely associated with either Union or Confederate forces. They pillaged and burned the near-deserted town, leaving only a few buildings standing at the end of the Civil War.<ref name="Paige1987">{{cite book | last = Paige | first = John C | author2 = Laura Woulliere Harrison | title = Out of the Vapors: A Social and Architectural History of Bathhouse Row, Hot Springs National Park | publisher = U.S. Department of the Interior | year = 1987 | url = http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/hosp/bathhouse_row.pdf | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090225013243/http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/hosp/bathhouse_row.pdf | archive-date = February 25, 2009 }}</ref>

===Rebuilding===
After the Civil War, extensive rebuilding of bathhouses and hotels took place at Hot Springs. The year-round population soared to 1,200 inhabitants by 1870. By 1873 six bathhouses and 24 hotels and boardinghouses stood near the springs. 
In 1873, Hot Springs became the county seat of the newly formed Garland County. Prior to 1873, the city had been a part of Hot Spring County.
In 1874, Joseph Reynolds announced his decision to construct a [[narrow-gauge]] railroad from [[Malvern, Arkansas|Malvern]] to Hot Springs; completion in 1875 resulted in the growth of visitation to the springs. Samuel W. Fordyce and two other entrepreneurs financed the construction of the first luxury hotel in the area, the first [[Arlington Hotel (Hot Springs National Park)|Arlington Hotel]], which opened in 1875.<ref name=Paige1987 />

During the [[Reconstruction Era]], several conflicting land claims reached the U.S. Congress and resulted on April 24, 1876, [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] ruling that the land title of Hot Springs belonged to the federal government. Protests ensued. To deal with the situation, Congress formed the Hot Springs Commission to lay out streets in the town of Hot Springs, deal with land claims, define property lines, condemn buildings illegally on the permanent reservation (now the national park), and define a process for claimants to purchase land. The commission surveyed and set aside {{convert|264.93|acre|km2}} encompassing the hot springs and Hot Springs Mountain to be a permanent government reservation. Another {{convert|1200|acre|km2}} became the Hot Springs townsite, with {{convert|700|acre|km2}} awarded to claimants. The townsite consisted of 196 blocks and {{convert|50|mi|km}} of streets and alleys. The remaining portion of the original four sections of government land consisted of hills and mountains which were mostly unoccupied, and Congress acted on the commission's recommendation in June 1880 by adding those lands to the permanent reservation.<ref name=Paige1987 />

===Baseball in Hot Springs===
Hot Springs has a rich [[baseball]] history. During the early 20th century, Hot Springs was known for baseball training camps. Often called the "birthplace" of [[Spring training]] baseball, Hot Springs first welcomed Major League Baseball in 1886, when the [[History of the Chicago Cubs#1870: The Chicago White Stockings Base Ball Club|Chicago White Stockings]] (now the [[Chicago Cubs]]), brought their coaches and players to the city in preparation for the upcoming season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hotsprings.org/pages/history-buffs/ |title=arlington hotel, oaklawn, gangster museum, hot springs baseball trail, historical landmarks &#124; Hot Springs, Arkansas |website=Hotsprings.org |access-date=February 24, 2016 |archive-date=February 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180216151214/http://www.hotsprings.org/pages/history-buffs/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="encyclopediaofarkansas1">{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=6221 |title=Major League Spring Training in Hot Springs |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Arkansas |access-date=February 24, 2016}}</ref> Chicago White Stockings'  President [[Albert Spalding]], the founder of [[Spalding (sports equipment)|A.G Spalding]], and player/manager [[Cap Anson]] introduced the concept of players having training and fitness before the start of the regular season, This move gave credit to Hot Springs being called the "birthplace of spring training baseball". Both Spalding and Anson liked the city and the natural springs for their players. They first played in an area behind what is now the Garland County Courthouse on Ouachita Avenue at was called the Hot Springs Baseball Grounds. Many other teams followed Chicago and began training and playing games in Hot Springs.<ref name="encyclopediaofarkansas.net">{{cite web|url=http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=6221|publisher=Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture|title=Major League Spring Training in Hot Springs|access-date=March 16, 2016}}</ref>

The [[Cleveland Spiders]], [[Pittsburgh Pirates]], [[Brooklyn Dodgers]], [[Chicago Cubs]], [[Cincinnati Reds]], [[Detroit Tigers]], [[New York Yankees]], [[St. Louis Cardinals]] and [[Boston Red Sox]] were among the major league teams that made Hot Springs their home for Spring training. Needing additional venues for teams to play, [[Whittington Park (baseball)|Whittington Park]] was built in 1894, followed by [[Majestic Park]] in 1908 and [[Fogel Field (Hot Springs)|Fogel Field]] in 1912. 134 members of the [[Baseball Hall of Fame]] are documented to have trained or played in Hot Springs.<ref name="encyclopediaofarkansas1"/>

[[Negro league baseball]] teams also utilized Hot Springs for spring training. The [[Pittsburgh Crawfords]] utilized Fogel Field for spring training from 1932 to 1935. Their roster contained Baseball Hall of Fame Inductees [[Cool Papa Bell]], [[Josh Gibson]], [[Oscar Charleston]] and [[Judy Johnson]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://m.mlb.com/news/article/1807855/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906133837/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/1807855|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 6, 2015|title=Crawfords Called Best Money Could Buy|last=Harding|first=Thomas|publisher=[[Major League Baseball]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?id=5a838d1e|title=1935 Pittsburgh Crawfords|website=[[Baseball Reference]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hotspringsbaseballtrail.com/untold-stories/snappy-aggregations-african-american-baseball-in-hot-springs-arkansas/|first=Mark|last=Blaeuer|title=Snappy Aggregations: African-American Baseball in Hot Springs, Arkansas|date=June 25, 2013|publisher=Hot Springs Arkansas Baseball Trail}}</ref> The [[Homestead Grays]], held spring training at Fogel Field in 1930 and 1931. On their roster were numerous Hall of Fame players: Cool Papa Bell, Josh Gibson, Oscar Charleston, [[Jud Wilson]], [[Bill Foster (baseball)|Bill Foster]], [[Judy Johnson]], Smokey Joe Williams, [[Willie Wells]] and [[Cum Posey]].<ref>{{cite web| url= http://baseballhall.org/explorer|title= Search of Hall of Fame Members| publisher=National Baseball Hall of Fame|access-date=March 15, 2016}}</ref>

St. Patrick's Day, 1918, is nicknamed the "Day that changed Baseball Forever." Boston Red Sox' pitcher [[Babe Ruth]] hit a long Home Run into the [[Arkansas Alligator Farm and Petting Zoo]] that altered the course of baseball history. In the opening exhibition game against Brooklyn at [[Whittington Park]], Ruth (coming off a 24–13 season) was a last-minute replacement at first base, his first time at a position other than pitcher. Ruth hit two long home runs that day while playing the field for the first time. His first home run was a long blast that landed in a wood pile. However, his second Home run is legendary in its record setting length and eventual effect on Ruth. It was a shot that traveled an astonishing estimated 573 feet.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baberuthcentral.com/babe-ruth/fan-rare-photos-babe-ruth-hot-springs/|title=From a Fan: Rare Photos of Babe Ruth in Hot Springs|publisher=Babe Ruth Central|access-date=March 17, 2016}}</ref><ref name="buddbailey">{{cite news|url=http://buddroadtrips.blogspot.com/2014/10/hot-springs-arkansas-babe-ruths-home-run.html|publisher=Road Trips!|first=Budd|last=Bailey|title=Hot Springs, Arkansas: Babe Ruth's Home Run|date=October 27, 2014}}</ref><ref name="billjenkinsonbaseball.webs.com">{{cite web|url=http://billjenkinsonbaseball.webs.com/hotspringsbaseball.htm|title=Hot Springs Baseball|publisher=Bill Jenkins Baseball|access-date=March 17, 2016}}</ref>

After that day Ruth became a hitter, switching from being just a pitcher. In Hot Springs, Ruth could be seen walking the streets, visiting the bath spas, and gambling at the nearby horse track. There is a Ruth plaque both inside and outside the Alligator Farm, as well as a home plate marker at the former Whittington Park across the street.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://arkbaseball.com/tiki-index.php?page=Professional+Baseball+Ballparks&structure=Professional+Baseball|title=Arkansas Baseball Encyclopedia - Professional Baseball Ballparks|website=Arkbaseball.com|access-date=April 28, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031151544/http://arkbaseball.com/tiki-index.php?page=Professional+Baseball+Ballparks&structure=Professional+Baseball|archive-date=October 31, 2014}}</ref>

The Pittsburgh Pirates trained for over a decade at Whittington Park. Hall of Fame [[shortstop]] [[Honus Wagner]] became a fixture in the city. As evidence of this, Wagner purchased and donated basketball uniforms and equipment to [[Hot Springs High School (Arkansas)|Hot Springs High School]] in 1912. The uniforms were in the Pittsburgh Pirates colors of black and gold and subsequently the high school switched permanently to those colors. Wagner also refereed a basketball game for the school that season, something he would later repeat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hsbbt.toursphere.com/en/17-honus-wagner-76276.html|title=Honus Wagner|publisher=Hot Springs Baseball Tour|access-date=March 17, 2016|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304025046/http://hsbbt.toursphere.com/en/17-honus-wagner-76276.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1952, an 18-year old [[Hank Aaron]] played in the [[Negro American League]] championship for the [[Indianapolis Clowns]] against the [[Birmingham Black Barons]] at [[Majestic Park]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hotspringsbaseballtrail.com/see-the-trail/hank-aaron/ |title=Hank Aaron - Hot Springs Arkansas Historic Baseball Trail |website=Hotspringsbaseballtrail.com |date=October 1, 1952 |access-date=February 24, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://coe.k-state.edu/annex/nlbemuseum/history/players/aaron.html |title=Negro Leagues Baseball eMuseum: Personal Profiles: Henry "Hank" Aaron |website=Coe.k-state.edu |access-date=February 24, 2016 |archive-date=February 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222221046/http://coe.k-state.edu/annex/nlbemuseum/history/players/aaron.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>Heaphy, Leslie A. The Negro Leagues, 1869-1960p.222</ref>

On October 22, 1953, [[Jackie Robinson]] played in an exhibition game at [[Majestic Park]]. Having broken Major League Baseball's color barrier in 1947, Robinson's squad played the Negro American League All-Stars that day, losing 14–9.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://arkbaseball.com/tiki-index.php?page=Jackie+Robinson%E2%80%99s+All-Stars+Exhibitions |title=Arkansas Baseball Encyclopedia &#124; Jackie Robinson's All-Stars Exhibitions |website=Arkbaseball.com |access-date=February 24, 2016}}</ref>

''The First Boys of Spring'' is a 2015 documentary covering the history of Hot Springs Baseball spring training.<ref>https://www.uapress.com/product/the-first-boys-of-spring/ Retrieved 28 July 2024.</ref> The film features many Hot Springs historical items and references. Produced by Arkansas filmmaker Larry Foley, it is narrated by Hot Springs area native, actor [[Billy Bob Thornton]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Bauman |first=Bonnie |url=http://arkansaslife.com/boys-of-spring/ |title=Boys of Spring |publisher=Arkansas Life |access-date=February 24, 2016 |archive-date=January 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125220854/http://arkansaslife.com/boys-of-spring/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://thefirstboysofspring.weebly.com |title=Home |website=Thefirstboysofspring.weebly.com |access-date=February 24, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://larryfoley.weebly.com/ |title=Larry Foley - Home |website=Larryfoley.weebly.com |access-date=February 24, 2016}}</ref> The Foley documentary is aired nationally on the [[MLB Network]], first airing in February 2016.<ref>{{cite web |last=Newman |first=Mark |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-network-to-air-first-boys-of-spring-doc-c164344220 |title=MLB Network to air 'First Boys of Spring' doc &#124; MLB.com |website=MLB.com |date=January 20, 2016 |access-date=February 24, 2016 |archive-date=July 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708090444/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/164344220/mlb-network-to-air-first-boys-of-spring-doc/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Today, as part of the '''Hot Springs Baseball Historic Trail''', there are 26 green plaques/markers posted throughout Hot Springs that identify the key people and locations, with an app available to provide live information.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hotspringsbaseballtrail.com/category/untold-stories/|title=Untold Stories « Hot Springs Arkansas Historic Baseball Trail|website=www.hotspringsbaseballtrail.com|access-date=April 28, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021150740/http://www.hotspringsbaseballtrail.com/category/untold-stories/|archive-date=October 21, 2017}}</ref>

===1913 fire===
[[File:Hot Springs Arkansas 4276172895 520096f271 o.jpg|thumb|September 10, 1913, with remnants of the fire]]
On September 5, 1913, a fire broke out on Church Street a few blocks southeast of Bathhouse Row, near the Army and Navy Hospital. The fire burned southeast, away from the hospital, until the wind reversed an hour later. Racing toward the business section, it destroyed the Ozark Sanitarium and [[Hot Springs High School (Arkansas)|Hot Springs High School]] on its way across Malvern Avenue. Along the way it consumed the Public Utilities plant, which destroyed the firefighters' water supply. A wide front then was blown toward Ouachita Avenue which destroyed the Garland County Court House. The Hot Springs Fire Department fought alongside the Little Rock Fire Department, which had rushed over on a special train. Despite their efforts, numerous homes, at least a hundred businesses, four hotels, the [[St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway|Iron Mountain Railroad]] facilities, and the Crystal Theater were destroyed. A rainstorm finally quenched the blaze at Hazel Street. Although Central Avenue was ultimately protected (primarily by desperate use of [[dynamite]]), much of the southern part of the city was destroyed. Damage was estimated at $10,000,000 across 60 blocks.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.oldstatehouse.com/educational_programs/classroom/arkansas_news/detail.asp?id=559&issue_id=41&page=1 |title=Hot Springs Again Hit by Fire |access-date=March 30, 2008 |date=Fall 1984 |work=The Arkansas News |publisher=Old State House Museum |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050317053505/http://www.oldstatehouse.com/educational_programs/classroom/arkansas_news/detail.asp?id=559&issue_id=41&page=1 |archive-date=March 17, 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=$6,000,000 DAMAGE IN HOT SPRINGS FIRE; Thirty Blocks of Arkansas Resort Swept Away Within a Few Hours. | date=September 6, 1913 | url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C0CE2DC113CE633A25755C0A96F9C946296D6CF | work=The New York Times | access-date=March 30, 2008 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090610030244/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C0CE2DC113CE633A25755C0A96F9C946296D6CF | archive-date=June 10, 2009 }}</ref>

===Formation of the Assemblies of God===
From April 2–12, 1914, several [[Pentecostal]] Christian leaders gathered in Hot Springs to form what became known as the [[Assemblies of God]]. It has since grown to become one of the largest Pentecostal denominations in the United States, with 3,146,741 adherents, 12,849 churches, and 36,884 ministers ({{As of|2014|lc=y}}).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ag.org/top/About/History/index.cfm |title=Brief History of the Assemblies of God |access-date=March 22, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315191803/http://ag.org/top/About/History/index.cfm |archive-date=March 15, 2016 }}</ref>

===Gangsters and illegal gambling===
[[File:Picturesque Hot Springs Central Avenue 1924.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of Hot Springs after 1925 along Central Avenue. The base of Hot Springs Mountain is in top right, behind Bathhouse Row. Part of West Mountain is on the left. The southwest edge of North Mountain is behind the [[Arlington Hotel (Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas)|Arlington Hotel]] at top.]]

[[Illegal gambling]] became firmly established in Hot Springs during the decades following the Civil War, with two factions, the Flynns and the Dorans, fighting one another throughout the 1880s for control of the town. Frank Flynn, leader of the Flynn Faction, had effectively begun paying local law enforcement officers employed by both the Hot Springs Police Department and the Garland County Sheriff's Office to collect unpaid debts, as well as to intimidate gambling rivals. This contributed to the March 16, 1899, [[Hot Springs Gunfight]]. Of the seven Hot Springs police officers who have been killed while in service of the department, three died during that gunfight, killed by deputies of the Garland County Sheriff's Office. One part-time deputy sheriff was killed also, by the Hot Springs officers.{{citation needed|date = May 2013}}

Along with Bathhouse Row, one of downtown Hot Springs' most noted landmarks is the [[Arlington Hotel (Hot Springs National Park)|Arlington Hotel]], a favored retreat for [[Al Capone]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=History of The Arlington {{!}} The Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa|url=https://www.arlingtonhotel.com/history/|access-date=June 17, 2021|language=en-US}}</ref>

Hot Springs eventually became a national gambling mecca, led by [[Owney Madden]] and his Hotel Arkansas casino. The period 1927–1947 was its wagering pinnacle, with no fewer than ten major casinos and numerous smaller houses running wide open, the largest such operation in the United States at the time{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}. Hotels advertised the availability of [[prostitute]]s, and [[bookmaker|off-track booking]] was available for virtually any horse race in North America.{{citation needed|date = May 2013}}

Local law enforcement was controlled by a [[political machine]] run by long-serving mayor [[Leo McLaughlin]]. The McLaughlin organization purchased hundreds of [[poll tax]] receipts, many in the names of deceased or fictitious persons, which would sometimes be voted in different precincts. A former sheriff, who attempted to have the state's anti-gambling laws enforced and to secure honest elections, was murdered in 1937. No one was ever charged with his killing. Machine domination of city and county government was abruptly ended in 1946 with the election of a "Government Improvement" slate of returning World War II veterans led by Marine Lt. Col. [[Sid McMath]], who was elected [[prosecuting attorney]]. A 1947 grand jury indicted several owners and promoters, as well as McLaughlin, for public servant [[bribery]]. Although the former mayor and most of the others were acquitted, the machine's power was broken and gambling came to a halt, as McMath led a statewide "GI Revolt" into the governor's office in 1948. Illegal casino gambling resumed, however, with the election of [[Orval Faubus]] as governor in 1954. Buoyed into 12&nbsp;years in office by his popular defiance of federal court [[Desegregation in the United States|desegregation]] orders, Faubus turned a blind eye to gambling in Hot Springs.<ref name="five families book">{{Cite book| title = The Five Families| publisher = MacMillan| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=5nAt6N8iQnYC| access-date = June 22, 2008| isbn = 9781429907989| date = May 13, 2014}}</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1964/03/08/hot-springs-gamblers-haven.html Hot Springs: Gamblers' Haven ''New York Times'' March 8, 1964] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825025404/http://www.nytimes.com/1964/03/08/hot-springs-gamblers-haven.html |date=August 25, 2017 }}</ref><ref>[https://www.si.com/vault/1962/03/19/591423/the-hottest-spring-in-hot-springs The Hottest Spring for Hot Springs ''Sports Illustrated'' March 19, 1962] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825022407/https://www.si.com/vault/1962/03/19/591423/the-hottest-spring-in-hot-springs |date=August 25, 2017 }}</ref> ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' explained the status of the casinos in 1959 as follows: "How do these places operate when gambling and mixed drinks are supposedly against the law? Simple. Every week the management appears in local court, pays its fine according to the amount of biz [business] done and goes back to open up."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Trump |first1=Glenn |title=Acts Ride In on Gravy Train as Hot Springs Takes Baths and Bets |url=https://archive.org/details/variety214-1959-04/page/n295/mode/1up?view=theater |access-date=December 19, 2021 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=April 15, 1959 |page=144}}</ref>

Gambling was finally closed down in 1967 by two [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] officeholders, Governor [[Winthrop Rockefeller]] and Circuit Judge Henry M. Britt. Rockefeller sent in a company of state troopers to shutter the casinos and burn their gaming equipment. Until other forms of gambling became legal in Arkansas four decades later,<ref>Charitable [[Bingo (U.S.)|bingo]] was authorized by [[Arkansas Constitution]] {{cite web |url=http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/Summary/ArkansasConstitution1874.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=August 2, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081221084645/http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/Summary/ArkansasConstitution1874.pdf |archive-date=December 21, 2008 }}, Amendment 84 effective January 1, 2007. Also, the [[Arkansas Scholarship Lottery]] began in 2009 under Amendment 87.</ref> [[Oaklawn Racing & Gaming|Oaklawn Park]], a [[thoroughbred horse racing]] track south of downtown, was the only legal gambling establishment in Hot Springs and one of only two in the state of Arkansas; the other was the [[Southland Greyhound Park]] dog track in [[West Memphis, Arkansas|West Memphis]]. Both Oaklawn and Southland remain in operation.<ref>{{ Cite encyclopedia |last= Hodge |first= Michael |title= Oaklawn Park Racetrack |url= http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?search=1&entryID=3636 |encyclopedia= [[Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture]] |publisher= [[Butler Center for Arkansas Studies]] at the [[Central Arkansas Library System]] |date= January 8, 2008 |access-date= December 22, 2013 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131224101453/http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?search=1&entryID=3636 |archive-date= December 24, 2013 }}</ref>

=== Army-Navy Hospital ===
{{More citations needed section|date=January 2020}}
After the Civil War, the idea of establishing an Army-Navy hospital in Hot Springs was advocated by A.S. Garnett, a former Navy surgeon with a local practice, and [[John A. Logan]], a retired Union general turned politician who was a former patient of Garnett's. In 1884, Logan persuaded Congress to allocate $100,000 for the purpose. Erected under the supervision of Captain J.W. Jacobs, the 100-bed hospital was built of wood and brick in the "pavilion style" that required patients and clinicians to traverse long distances.

After World War I, Congress granted $1.5 million to build a new facility. Built under Captain Edward George, it could hold 500 patients and contained such cutting-edge technology as an X-ray wing and temperature-controlled morgue. The operating rooms and equipment were thought to be the finest in the country.

Yet after the United States entered World War II, the hospital was once again overwhelmed. The Army and Navy arranged to send some overflow to the nearby Arlington and Majestic hotels. The hospital  also trained dentists, surgeons, and pharmacists, and housed the first enlisted medical technician school for the [[Women's Army Corps]].The grounds contained a kitchen and living quarters for nurses and physicians. Among the famous people treated at the hospital were [[Helen Keller]] and [[Joe DiMaggio]]. The hospital was closed on April 1, 1960, likely because local demand dropped. The grounds were sold to the state of Arkansas for one dollar.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thv11.com/article/news/hot-springs-leaders-worried-as-old-military-hospital-is-set-to-shutter/91-32573617-ff01-410a-90a9-d0493ca55a40|title = Hot Springs leaders worried as old military hospital is set to shutter| date=August 16, 2019 }}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20181008160909/http://www.aetn.org/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/131142/ArmyNavyScript.pdf] {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref>

===World War II===
[[File:Hot Springs Rehabilitation Center.jpg|thumb|upright|Hot Springs Rehabilitation Center—now known as Arkansas Career Training Institute—was formerly an Army and Navy Hospital.]]
The military took over the enormous Eastman Hotel across the street from the Army and Navy Hospital in 1942 because the hospital was not nearly large enough to hold the sick and wounded coming in. In 1944, the Army began redeploying returning overseas soldiers; officials inspected hotels in 20 cities before selecting Hot Springs as a redistribution center for returning soldiers. In August 1944, the Army took over most of the hotels in Hot Springs. The soldiers from the west-central states received a 21-day furlough before reporting to the redistribution station. They spent 14&nbsp;days updating their military records and obtaining physical and dental treatment. The soldiers had time to enjoy the baths at a reduced rate and other recreational activities. The redistribution center closed down in December 1945 after processing more than 32,000 members of the military. In 1946, after the war, the Eastman was demolished when the federal government no longer needed it.<ref name=Paige1987 />

===21st century===
In 2013, the metro was ranked by ''[[Forbes]]'' as one of the top "small places for business and careers", citing a low cost of doing business, high job growth and an educated workforce.<ref>{{ cite web |title= Hot Springs, Arkansas |url= https://www.forbes.com/places/ar/hot-springs/ |work= Best Small Places For Business And Careers |publisher= Forbes |access-date= December 22, 2013 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131203204602/http://www.forbes.com/places/ar/hot-springs/ |archive-date= December 3, 2013 }}</ref> The first [[Cannabis in Arkansas|cannabis dispensary in the state]] opened in May 2019 in the city.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-arkansas-medical-marijuana-20190511-story.html|title=Medical marijuana sales kick off in Arkansas|agency=[[Associated Press]]|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=May 13, 2019}}</ref>