National Register of Historic Places

Original Springs Hotel and Bathhouse

Okawville, Washington County, Illinois
Listed
December 22, 1978
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
78001194

About this property

The Original Springs Hotel and Bathhouse is a mineral spa located at 506 N. Hanover St. in Okawville, Illinois. The resort was established in 1867, when founder Rudolph Plegge discovered the presence of minerals like magnesium and sulfur in his well water. Plegge and his neighbor C. H. Kelle built a bathhouse on his land; after the bathhouse burned in an 1892 fire, the current hotel and bathhouse were built. During the late 19th century, mineral spring resorts became popular due to their purported health benefits, and several new spas opened alongside the Original Springs in Okawville. The village became a significant resort destination for wealthy St. Louis businessmen, including brewing magnate August Anheuser Busch, Sr. While most of Okawville's resorts declined after mineral springs fell out of favor, the Original Springs was still a prominent resort as late as 1930. Though the spa declined during the Great Depression and the ensuing decades, it modernized in 1962 and remains open as a hotel and spa. It is now the only operational mineral spa remaining in Illinois. The resort was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 22, 1978.

Location

301 E. Walnut St.
Okawville, Washington County, Illinois
38.43413, -89.54829

Categories

ARCHITECTURESOCIAL HISTORY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Schlosser, Frank, Complex
Industrial
0.2 mi
Rutter Store
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10.2 mi
Louisville and Nashville Depot
Industrial
10.8 mi
Twiss, James C., House
Industrial
12.6 mi
Draser, George, Jr., House
Industrial
14.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Original Springs Hotel and Bathhouse listed on the National Register?

Original Springs Hotel and Bathhouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 22, 1978.

What type of historic resource is Original Springs Hotel and Bathhouse?

Original Springs Hotel and Bathhouse is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Original Springs Hotel and Bathhouse?

The period of significance for Original Springs Hotel and Bathhouse is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Original Springs Hotel and Bathhouse?

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