Hot Springs National Park - Hot Springs National Park Celebrates its 175th Anniversary (U.S. National Park Service)

Hanamaki, Japan, mayor, Superintendent Josie Fernandez with large scissors, re-enactor President Andrew Jackson, and Smokey Bear in front of red ribbon, young school children behind ribbon and Deer Dancers behind children.

Susie Harris for Hot Springs National Park

Ribbon cutting to open educational exhibits with Hanamaki, Japan, Mayor Mitsuo Oishi, Superintendent Josie Fernandez, and President Andrew Jackson (Dave McArdle) watched by local area school children, Hanamaki deer dancers, and Smokey Bear

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Date: April 30, 2007
Contact: Diane East, 501-623-2824

Hot SpringsNational Parkcelebrated the 175th anniversary of the establishment of Hot Springs Reservation on April 20, 1832, with a 2-day fest in the park featuring educational exhibits, re-enactors, special tours and free concerts.

“It was a fantastic weekend, and a great way to commemorate the best idea the government ever had--setting aside special natural resources for the future enjoyment of its citizens,” said Josie Fernandez, Hot Springs National Park Superintendent.

Hot Springs Reservation was established by President Andrew Jackson and the U.S. Congress to protect the 47 hot springs in the area. The act preceded the establishment of the Department of the Interior in 1849 and setting aside Yellowstone National Park in 1872. The reservation was renamed a national park in 1921.

The celebration started on Friday morning, April 20, with a ribbon-cutting to open educational exhibits presented for school children and visitors by the federal, state, and local conservation agencies located in Arkansas. A President Andrew Jackson re-enactor was on hand to talk about the president’s history and all the historic buildings on Bathhouse Row were open for visitors to tour.

An opening ceremony was held on the Arlington Lawn on Friday afternoon featuring speeches by Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe and National Park Service Deputy Director Daniel Wenk, and Mitsuo Oishi, the mayor of Hanamaki, Japan, the sister city of the City of Hot Springs. A group of dancers from Hanamaki performed a ceremonial deer dance in honor of the establishment of Hot Springs Reservation. At the end of the ceremony, everyone was invited to enjoy a piece of anniversary cake.

Friday evening and all day Saturday, April 21, musical groups performed for the gathered crowds. Country stars Jody Evans, Texarkana, and Riverbilly were the named acts performing.

Planning for the two-day event was a two year effort involving park staff, local businesses and community organizations including the Friends of the Fordyce and Hot Springs National Park Inc., the City of Hot Springs, and the Hot Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Susie Harris for Hot Springs National Park

Asst. Superintendent Dale Moss, NPS Midwest Regional Director Ernest Quintana, Congressional staffer (for Mike Ross) Jeff Weaver, NPS Deputy Director Daniel Wenk, Hot Springs Mayor Mike Bush, Arkansas State Rep. Gene Shelby, Hanamaki, Japan, Mayor Mitsuo Oishi, Superintendent Josie Fernandez, Arkansas State Rep. Bill Sample, President Andrew Jackson (Re-enactor Dave McArdle), Congressional staffer (for Blanche Lincoln) Ed French, Garland County Judge Larry Williams, Congressional staffer (for Mark Pryor) Robbie Reed

	Anniversary Tulips (15 Photos) As part of the park's 175th anniversary, we planted tulips on Bathhouse Row. In the early 1900s, each bathhouse had beds with bulbs: tulips, hyacinths, narcissus, jonquils View Album \| View Slideshow

	175th Anniversary Celebration (33 Photos) Take a look at the festivities on April 20-21, 2007 that celebrated the anniversary of Congress and President Andrew Jackson creating Hot Springs Reservation. View Album \| View Slideshow

Anniversary Tulips (15 Photos)

175th Anniversary Celebration (33 Photos)