The architecture of historic Eureka Springs can be called European, modern, classic or Victorian. Whatever style it is, the term "unique" comes to mind. The designs vary as much as the city's many shops and eating establishments.
One of Eureka Springs' more prominent buildings known for its architecture is Thorncrown Chapel. The 48-foot high wooden structure has 425 windows and more than 6,000 square feet of glass. Since the chapel opened its doors in 1980, more than 5 million people have visited the forest-surrounded building.
The American Institute of Architecture has named Thorncrown Chapel fourth on its list of top buildings of the 20th century. The chapel was designed by now-deceased architect E. Fay Jones of Pine Bluff. Jones said the inspiration for Thorncrown Chapel was Sainte Chappelle, Paris' light filled gothic chapel.
The Thorncrown Chapel is made to fit its natural setting. The only steel in the structure forms a diamond shaped pattern in its wooden trusses, according to chapel representatives. The building has a native flagstone floor surrounded with a rock wall. To preserve Thorncrown's natural setting, Fay decided that no structural element could be larger than what two men could carry through the woods. Large pieces of the building were assembled on the floor and raised into place. Light, shadows and reflections play a major role in Thorncrown's ambiance and tranquility. The chapel's trusses and surrounding trees create constantly changing patterns of light and shadows. At night reflections of the crosses in the lights appear to surround the entire building.
Another attraction known for its architecture is the Crescent Hotel and Spa. The hotel opened in 1886 with a grand gala but later fell on hard times. Con artist Norman Baker bought the hotel, calling it his "castle in the air." He quickly turned it into the Baker Hospital where he ran medical scams that earned him hundreds of thousands of dollars. Baker was eventually convicted of his crimes, and the building was restored to a hotel. Many people flock to the Victorian hotel each year because it is said to be haunted.
Much of Eureka Springs' architectural style comes from its early beginnings in the 1800s. Eureka Springs was incorporated as a town Feb. 14, 1880, but the only courthouse was in Berryville. Residents petitioned for their own courthouse, and in 1883, the Arkansas General Assembly enacted legislation to create the Western Judicial District of Carroll County.
A rented room was initially used as the courthouse. An appropriation for a new courthouse went before the council, but the mayor discovered two justices of the peace would be absent at the meeting, according to the town's history. Their votes would be needed, the mayor said. He had the chief of police gather the absent justices on horseback and bring them to the meeting. The vote was a tie among justices, but the county judge broke the tie by voting for the appropriation. The courthouse was designed and constructed of native limestone in 1908. The building is still a landmark of downtown Eureka Springs.
The Basin Park Hotel and a flat-iron building also remain a staple in the downtown area.
There have been three flat-iron buildings near Basin Springs Park since 1880. The original building housed Eureka Springs' first bank. It was the first structure made of brick in a town where most buildings were wooden. The three-sided, four-story building had a wraparound porch between the second and third floors. In 1890, a fire in the nearby Perry House Hotel destroyed the flat-iron.
A second flat-iron was built on the site after the fire. The three-story structure was made of brick with limestone ornamentation and a pressed metal cornice. In 1900, the building was home to the Frisco Saloon, business offices and a lodge hall. Fire also would claim the second building. In 1989, the third flat-iron was constructed, incorporating previous architectural designs of the other buildings.
Some of the town's historic buildings didn't even originate in Eureka Springs. The Queen Anne Mansion is a three-story home built in 1891 in Carthage, Mo. The mansion was dismantled and later moved to Eureka Springs. The home features seven fireplaces, intricate woodwork, stained-glass windows and period furnishings.
The hodgepodge of architecture in Eureka Springs can be found throughout every nook and cranny of the city. Each building has its own distinct style, and each building has a story.
Courtesy of The Baxter Bulletin