The History of Hot Springs Revealed in New Book

Nov. 12, 2013 - PRLog -- The newest addition to Arcadia Publishing’s Images of America series is Hot Springs From Capone to Costello from local author Robert K. Raines. The book boasts more than 200 vintage images of the early years of this Arkansas city.

In the late 1800s, Hot Springs, Ark., was a small town with a big attraction: hot thermal water. The federal government took possession of the downtown-area springs and bathhouse row was born, along with the first property that would be considered a national park. Following not too far behind were great entrepreneurs who brought in gambling and prostitution to go with the area’s leading industry: moonshining.

By the time the 20th century rolled in, Hot Springs was booming with tourists and became America’s first resort. In the early 1930s, former New York gangster Owen Madden took up residence in the spa city, and things became very organized. Gangland luminaries from Al Capone to Frank Costello made regular pilgrimages over the next few decades to what was referred to as “the loose buckle in the Bible Belt.”

Images of America: Hot Springs From Capone to Costello uses vintage images to show the early and somewhat seedy history of the area. By documenting the scenes of yesteryear, the book hopes to shed light on the modern identity of Hot Springs.

Available at area bookstores, independent retailers, and online retailers, or through Arcadia Publishing at (888)-313-2665 or online.

Arcadia Publishing is the leading publisher of local and regional history in the United States.  Our mission is to make history accessible and meaningful through the publication of books on the heritage of America’s people and places.  Have we done a book on your town?  Visit www.arcadiapublishing.com/.