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The interior of the Hall of Waters. Photo credit: National Trust for Historic Preservation
The Hall of Waters in Excelsior Springs, Missouri, was recently included in the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s 2020 list of 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. This list aims to raise awareness about the threats facing some of the nation’s greatest treasures. With the national attention on this historic building, the town’s Main Street program is hopeful the building will further its utility as a powerful tool in their economic development toolkit.
“In its current state, [the Hall of Waters] doesn’t touch its potential for economic development,” said Lyndsey Baxter, Executive Director of the Downtown Excelsior Partnership, Inc. “It could do so much more.”
Built as a Federal Public Works Administration project in 1937, the Hall of Waters once served as the country’s most progressive health center and spa. The town of Excelsior Springs, incorporated only 50 years prior, was built on over 40 different wells and springs of water naturally fortified with minerals such as calcium, saline, and iron manganese. Seeing the economic potential of these springs, the town used these waters to attract residents and spa-seeking visitors to their community. The Hall of Waters provided an official establishment for people to experience these waters via bath houses, regulation-sized swimming pools, and the world’s longest water bar for sampling the myriad of healing waters available. In its heyday, visitors from around the world came to enjoy this establishment of healing.
In the late 1950s, the popularity of mineral water clinics declined. As a result, less tourists came to visit the impressive Hall of Waters and, consequently, the commercial district. Growing up in Excelsior Springs during those quieter years, the Main Street executive director recalled the attitude residents developed towards Main Street: “It was a rough spot. People didn’t come downtown.” It’s worth noting that, despite this stigma, the Hall of Waters remained a place people would gather, such as dance recitals held in front of the historic building.
To create a vibrant future for their commercial district, local business owners and other Main Street supporters started the Downtown Excelsior Partnership in 2006. As many new Main Street programs experience, it took a while for the Partnership’s efforts to take off. In 2015, the vacancy rate was upwards of 35%. It was not until 2016 that community buy-in really took hold. With the community behind its mission, the town began to embrace saving downtown.
The community’s dedication to downtown’s growth is evident from the rising local wine and beer industry to the increased number of young entrepreneurs setting up shop downtown. The number of tourists—both the day-trippers and weekend getaway-ers—has also increased. This growth in tourism is credited in part to the promotional efforts from The Elms Hotel and Spa and the Downtown Excelsior Springs Commercial Community Improvement District. The Chamber has recently joined efforts in promoting tourism with the purchases of multiple trolleys for downtown. As of December 2019, the town’s vacancy rate had dropped to just 8%.
“It’s been a phenomenal team effort,” said Baxter. “All of a sudden, we’ve started firing on all cylinders together.”
The community of Excelsior Springs gathering for the Annual Benefit Dinner in front of the Hall of Waters. Photo credit: Jade Williams
Today, while the waters no longer rush through the building, the Hall of Waters remains an active icon for the Excelsior Springs downtown and community. The building often serves as the main hub for community events, from annual benefit dinners to the site of the Kansas City Barbeque Society’s championship cook-off. Because of its elegant Art Deco façade and Mayan-inspired interior friezes, the building also serves as a backdrop for the community’s personal photo shoots, such as high school Prom pictures.
For those more interested in encounters with the past, the building itself houses a small history museum. “The building provides an ideal environment to witness first-hand and learn about the historic and economic importance of the mineral waters regarding the development of Excelsior Springs,” writes the Downtown Excelsior Partnership of their town’s history. For those who want a more intimate encounter with yesteryear, the Hall of Waters’ superintendent hosts ghost tours on the weekends.
“It’s the heart of our downtown,” said Baxter. “Without it, I don’t think we would be where we are today. It does a fabulous job of telling the story of who we once were.”
As the Main Street program continues to pursue strategies for economic development, many see the Hall of Waters as an opportunity in waiting. But while the town is interested in finding funding to restore the Hall of Waters, there is an emphasis on keeping the building public. “[At one point], the City went to the community and said, ‘We have some potential investors,’” recalls Baxter. “But the community said, ‘The building needs to remain public. It needs to be a part of us.’ It was cool to see that buy-in.”
So, what does Excelsior Springs, a town on the rise, hope for its iconic downtown building? “In a perfect world, I’d love to be able to access the waters for visitors to try the water,” said Baxter. “With over 88,000 square feet, it could serve so many purposes and uses. It could really become an economic hub."
Learn more about the Hall of Waters and learn how you can help save it by visiting the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s 2020 list of America’s Most Endangered Historic Places.
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