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Visit Historic Eureka Springs, Arkansas |
By:
Lane Klein |
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Not many towns are on the National Register of Historic Places in their entirety but Eureka Springs Arkansas is an unusual place. Situated in the Ozark Mountains, the historical significance comes from the old part of the town where there are several Victorian buildings. Tourists like to see the European style of the town design with its meandering streets and sidewalk cafes. There is an Alpine layout to some of the districts.
Tourism began in the Victorian era as the town promoted itself as a spa resort, taking water from the local spring. The surrounding landscape of two lakes and two rivers added to the appeal of the area. The spa waters went out of fashion and Eureka Springs Arkansas suffered during the Great Depression. The town re-invented itself as a haven for creative people, particularly artists and writers, a presence that still influences today.
The old time charm of the town is expressed in many locally owned shops that sell craft work, antiques and art by local artists and there are numerous art galleries. A trolley service operates to shuttle visitors around. There are several hotels and many Victorian period homes offer Bed and Breakfast accommodation. Cultural events are prominent on the Eureka Springs Arkansas calendar and the annual poetry festival is popular. Local theatre productions are well supported and there are weekends organized with different musical genres as the theme, such as blues, classical, jazz and folk that attract some big name stars.
The town is also a magnet for UFO hunters and it hosts a UFO conference every year. Other events include several auto shows and there are annual motorbike rallies too. A rather peculiar feat has placed the town in the Guinness Book of Records. This is due to the construction of the largest tuned musical windchime in the world.
Many Christians visit the nearby retreat at Little Portion Hermitage, which is run by the gospel musician John Michael Talbot. The most unusual landmark in Eureka Springs Arkansas is a seven story high statue of Jesus Christ, made from white concrete and called Christ of the Ozarks. There is also a bible museum on the site and a passion play is performed every year at the outdoor amphitheatre. These links with religion are the result of plans for a Christian theme park that failed to come into fruition. The many different aspects of town life will continue to attract visitors.
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Article Source: http://www.statssheet.com/articles/article50127.html |
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