The famous waters ... The rarity of having 20 separate mineral springs bubbling out four distinct varieties of water has given Excelsior Springs the rightful claim of having the world's greatest group of mineral waters. The particularly unusual feature of the distinguished group lies in the fact that it includes two of the six world's known iron-manganese springs. Other types are classified as Saline-Sulpher, Soda-Bicarbonate and Calcic-Bicarbonate, the latter being generally known as Lithia. Watering place resorts rarely possess more than one type of water treatment -- mineral water baths. In Excelsior Springs there were four types of treatment with water of tonic, alterative and eliminative value and the mineral water baths. International attention was directed to the young American resort at the World's Fair held in Chicago in 1893 when medals were awarded Regent spring iron-manganese water and Soterian ginger ale. During the years 1882 to 1887, the Excelsior Springs Company was formed out of the Relief Springs and Land Company, a group of Kansas City capitalists. The company acquired nearly 1,000 acres of land, including Siloam, Regent and Relief Springs and all the territory within a radius of one mile west and south of Fishing River. A larger pavilion was built at Siloam and the level raised. A large concrete platform with benches for visitors to sit and drink and eat popcorn to make them thirsty so they could drink more, was provided. On the south wall of this pavilion were rows of hooks for cups. The visitors would hang their cups and put their names by them. Soon the cups would become stained, as the Siloam water was heavy in iron content. In 1888, the company discovered the Sulpho-Saline water. The well and pagoda were located north of Siloam on Broadway. Although the company brought about rapid development of the valley, it was mostly contained to areas in proximity to the Fishing River which had been farmed, leaving the banks of the river and the wooded hillside in their natural state. Broadway was being developed as a commercial street north of Fishing River and the Siloam and Sulpho Saline wells. Bridges spanning the river were either simple wooden structures or swinging bridges given over to pedestrian travel only, and so walking trails between the springs developed in the park land. In the early 1900s, the City of Excelsior Springs took possession of the Siloam and Sulpho-Saline wells. In 1918, farmers complained of the first draught in 53 years. The Daily Call proclaimed of plenty of water in Excelsior Springs as the draught had no effect on Siloam Spring or the other mineral springs and wells ... "truly the little valley is a favored spot." It was certainly a favored spot for visitors at the new Siloam Spring Gardens, being developed under the auspices of George E. Kessler, landscape architect. Included in the Kessler designed plans was the Siloam Springs Pavilion, pictured above. In 1927, the City Council moved to study a plan for taking over and operating the approved springs and wells, in addition to the already owned Siloam and Regent waters. This would ultimately lead to the building of the Hall of Waters and the destruction of the never completed Siloam Gardens. Considered "a far cry from the tin cup days", the building of the Hall of Waters signified a new era in the development of Excelsior Springs. Return to top