Excelsior Springs, Missouri: The Hall of Waters

Elaborate Art Deco temple devoted to the curative power of mineral water. Site of the World's Longest Water Bar, high windows, futurist chandeliers, and polished terrazzo floors.

Our tour guide was very friendly and told us about the history of the building. It was built as a state-of-the-art spa. Aside from the standard mineral baths, it also offered a "custom bath" -- someone holding a hose sprayed you wherever you wanted with hot or cold mineral water.

After patients were done with their treatment, they would go to the dryer, which used 100 light bulbs to generate heat.

Sadly, the World's Longest Water Bar is not yet functional. The tour guide told us that the pipes leading from the springs to the building are rusted and cracked. He said that new pipes will most likely be installed within a year. For the tine being, they offer "Excelsior Soda," which is flavored, carbonated mineral water gathered from a different part of the springs. It still tastes really good!

Hall of Waters is neat, especially for us Art Deco fans. The Water Bar area has displays, and there was an attendant selling coffee mugs, t-shirts, and bottled water. Kids wouldn't enjoy it, but it's pleasant for adults. Following the road directional signs to Hall of Waters was difficult. Lots of narrow one-way streets. You might want to avoid going on Monday, as almost all of the local shops were closed! At least there was plenty of parking available - dunno if that's true other days of the week.