Berkeley Springs State Park
Encyclopedia
Berkeley Springs State Park is a state park located in the center of Berkeley Springs
, West Virginia
. The centerpieces of this park are the spa
facilities. These waters are currently and historically billed as having medicinal or restorative powers, generally taken internally for digestive
disorders or in baths for stress relief. Native peoples
visited these springs as did George Washington
.
The park is located on land which has been used as a health resort since the 1750s, but the land was officially granted to Virginia
by Lord Fairfax in 1776. The park is operated by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
. In its literature, the park claims to be the only state-run spa in the United States.
Water flows from natural mineral springs
at a constant temperature of 74.3 degrees, emerging from the Oriskany (Ridgeley)
sandstone
of Warm Springs Ridge. It contains significant amounts of sulphates, nitrates, and carbonates -- mostly magnesium carbonate
s. The flow rate varies from 750 to 2000 US gal (2,839.1 to 7,570.8 L) per minute. The water is available for bathing
at two park bathhouses, for drinking from a fountain
at the 19th century Gentlemen's Spring House; and from every tap
in town since the springs serve as the source of the municipal water supply. The water is also bottled and sold commercially.
The historic Roman
Bathhouse, the oldest public building in Berkeley Springs, was built in Federal-style architecture
in 1815 on the site of an earlier bathhouse attributed to James Rumsey
. This original bathhouse, built in 1784, was described as having five bathing chambers and dressing rooms. The current building includes nine separate bathing chambers with tubs capable of holding a total 750 gallons of water heated to 102 degrees. These baths are open to the public daily throughout the year.
exhibits various historical items of natural and cultural significance to the springs and town. Admission is free, and the museum is open at least on weekends from March through December.
Bath (Berkeley Springs), West Virginia
Bath is a town in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, United States. It is the county seat of Morgan County. The town is incorporated as Bath, but it is often referred to by the name of its post office, Berkeley Springs. The population of the town was 663 according to the 2000 United States...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
. The centerpieces of this park are the spa
Destination spa
A destination spa is a short term residential/lodging facility with the primary purpose of providing individual services for spa-goers to develop healthy habits. Historically many such spas were developed at the location of natural hot springs or sources of mineral waters...
facilities. These waters are currently and historically billed as having medicinal or restorative powers, generally taken internally for digestive
Gastrointestinal tract
The human gastrointestinal tract refers to the stomach and intestine, and sometimes to all the structures from the mouth to the anus. ....
disorders or in baths for stress relief. Native peoples
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
visited these springs as did George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
.
The park is located on land which has been used as a health resort since the 1750s, but the land was officially granted to Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
by Lord Fairfax in 1776. The park is operated by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources is an agency of the government of the U.S. state of West Virginia. While formerly known as the cabinet-level Department of Natural Resources, it is now part of the West Virginia Department of Commerce...
. In its literature, the park claims to be the only state-run spa in the United States.
Water flows from natural mineral springs
Mineral Springs
Mineral Springs is the name of several locations in the United States:* Mineral Springs, Arkansas* Mineral Springs, North Carolina* Mineral Springs Township, North Dakota* Mineral Springs at Green Springs, Ohio...
at a constant temperature of 74.3 degrees, emerging from the Oriskany (Ridgeley)
Ridgeley sandstone
The Ridgeley sandstone is a sandstone or quartzite of Devonian age found in the Appalachian Mountains of Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia, USA. The Ridgeley is fine-grained, siliceous, calcareous in its lower strata, sometimes fossiliferous, and sometimes locally pebbly or...
sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
of Warm Springs Ridge. It contains significant amounts of sulphates, nitrates, and carbonates -- mostly magnesium carbonate
Magnesium carbonate
Magnesium carbonate, MgCO3, is a white solid that occurs in nature as a mineral. Several hydrated and basic forms of magnesium carbonate also exist as minerals...
s. The flow rate varies from 750 to 2000 US gal (2,839.1 to 7,570.8 L) per minute. The water is available for bathing
Public bathing
Public baths originated from a communal need for cleanliness. The term public may confuse some people, as some types of public baths are restricted depending on membership, gender, religious affiliation, or other reasons. As societies have changed, public baths have been replaced as private bathing...
at two park bathhouses, for drinking from a fountain
Fountain
A fountain is a piece of architecture which pours water into a basin or jets it into the air either to supply drinking water or for decorative or dramatic effect....
at the 19th century Gentlemen's Spring House; and from every tap
Tap (valve)
A tap is a valve controlling release of liquids or gas. In the British Isles and most of the Commonwealth, the word is used for any everyday type of valve, particularly the fittings that control water supply to bathtubs and sinks. In the U.S., the term "tap" is more often used for beer taps,...
in town since the springs serve as the source of the municipal water supply. The water is also bottled and sold commercially.
The historic Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
Bathhouse, the oldest public building in Berkeley Springs, was built in Federal-style architecture
Federal architecture
Federal-style architecture is the name for the classicizing architecture built in the United States between c. 1780 and 1830, and particularly from 1785 to 1815. This style shares its name with its era, the Federal Period. The name Federal style is also used in association with furniture design...
in 1815 on the site of an earlier bathhouse attributed to James Rumsey
James Rumsey
James Rumsey was an American mechanical engineer chiefly known for exhibiting a boat propelled by machinery in 1787 on the Potomac River at Shepherdstown, now West Virginia, before a crowd of local notables, including Horatio Gates...
. This original bathhouse, built in 1784, was described as having five bathing chambers and dressing rooms. The current building includes nine separate bathing chambers with tubs capable of holding a total 750 gallons of water heated to 102 degrees. These baths are open to the public daily throughout the year.
Museum of the Berkeley Springs
The Museum of the Berkeley Springs is located on the second floor of the bathhouse. Established in 1984, the museumMuseum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
exhibits various historical items of natural and cultural significance to the springs and town. Admission is free, and the museum is open at least on weekends from March through December.
See also
- List of Registered Historic Places in West Virginia
- List of West Virginia state parks
- Warm Spring RunWarm Spring RunWarm Spring Run is an non-navigable tributary stream of the Potomac River in Morgan County of West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle. It rises on the eastern side of Warm Springs Ridge and parallels U.S. Route 522 for most of its course. Warm Spring Run enters the Potomac River at Hancock...