Our separate ways

Currently In:  Memphis, TN
Next up: Bull Shoals, AR then Branson, Van Buren and Hannibal, MO

Almost every adventure we have taken this past year, we've done together.  But in a rare instance Johnny and I went our separate ways.  I took a traditional bath at the Buckstaff Bathhouse, the only bathhouse operational since 1912.  It included a soak in the warm mineral water from the springs, hot packs, steam and massage.  No photos in the bathhouse, tho - no one want to see a bunch of ladies wrapped up in sheets, anyway.

Johnny went to the Gangster Museum while I was relaxing.  It was a guided tour, so he didn't get to snap too many photos.  But he did learn that in the 1920's gangsters including Al Capone brought their families on vacation to Hot Springs.  This gave the gangs from Chicago and New York a chance to take a break.  They stayed at the Arlington Hotel, went to Bathhouse Row and enjoyed horse races at Oaklawn.

The Gangster Museum also had some baseball history.  Johnny did get this cool shot of baseball caps from the Spring Training days.  Those baseball mitts look like the one that my dad used.  And of course a wax figure of the Babe.

Johnny and I met up again for a burger at the famous Ohio Club, the oldest saloon in Arkansas.

This was a favorite hang out for the gangsters!

The Club's most outstanding feature is the one piece mahogany bar back.  It was shipped on a flatbed railcar from Cincinnati in 1917.  Checkout the horse heads just under the big light.

The bar was sculpted by a ship builder who loved the sea.  So he placed two maidenheads to keep watch.  There are inlaid mother of pearl starbursts just above their heads.

We really enjoyed the eclectic nature of downtown Hot Springs.  Look up the street and there are these painted ladies!