Maurice Historic Spring Area

The Maurice Historic Spring Area

NPS/Mitch Smith

Quick Facts

Amenities

1 listed

Water - Drinking/Potable

The Maurice Spring Historic Area was an early attempt to protect drinking fountains and springs during the development of Bathhouse Row. Located between the Hale and Maurice Bathhouses, the Dripping Spring and Tunnel Springs are surrounded by natural tufa rock and stonework.  

The Maurice Spring was the first display spring in Hot Springs National Park. All of the stonework around the Maurice Historic Spring area was completed in 1903.  

The Dripping Spring served as a convenient drinking fountain for many visitors. From the time that Hot Springs Reservation (later named Hot Springs National Park) was established in 1832, the thermal springs were considered to be a guaranteed source of safe drinking water – resulting in many people drinking from any spring that they encountered. Dedicated drinking fountains became important as increased visitation and the development of the bathhouses limited drinking springs. Historic photos show that the Dripping Spring became a popular spot for many visitors to fill up jugs of thermal water.