2010 US National Parks Quarters - Hot Springs P - Roll of 40pcs

2010 America the Beautiful Quarters - National Park Quarters Hot Springs (P Mint) Original Quarter Roll of 40pcs

Starting off the America the Beautiful Quarters Program is a design emblematic of the first land set aside by the United States for public use. Today, the area is known as Hot Springs National Park and it is located in the state of Arkansas.
Hot Springs National Park Information

Utilized for centuries by Native Americans who called it the Valley of the Vapors, the area received little attention for years even after being discovered by the explorer Hernando DeSoto in the 1500's.

Both France and Spain claimed ownership of the area at one time or another until France ceded the land to the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. Over the next few decades, the Hot Springs area slowly gained in popularity to the point that the Arkansas Territorial Legislature requested that the US government set aside the land as a reservation to help protect it.

This protection as a reservation area occurred in 1832, making it the first land set aside by the government for the public's use. Unfortunately, this designation did little to stop the exploitation of the resources and many of the hot springs were diverted into private bathhouses.

Finally, in 1877, the US Government initiated steps to preserve the area for future generations by assuming control of the springs. It still allowed private bathhouses to use the water, but controlled the flow with a government run plumbing system.

In 1921, Congress changed the name of the area to Hot Springs National Park and continues to oversee the use of the resources even today.