ISHS Acta Horticulturae 639: XXVI International Horticultural Congress: Expanding Roles for Horticulture in Improving Human Well-Being and Life Quality
THE MINERAL SPRINGS OF VIRGINIA: VIRGINIA'S LOST HEALING LANDSCAPE |
| Author: | B. Katen |
| Keywords: | hot springs, healing gardens, historical landscapes, spas, 19th Century America |
| Abstract:
In his essay “The 19th Century Rural Landscape: the Courthouse, the Small College, the Mineral Springs, and the Country Store”, John Brinkerhoff Jackson stated: “one final southern landscape feature deserves much more study than it has so far received: the watering place or spa or mineral springs”. This paper, using period source material including travel accounts, diaries, letters, artists’ representations, photographs and plans, along with analyses of existing springs, presents the nineteenth century mineral springs as a particularly significant yet long neglected “Virginia” landscape that extended far beyond the state’s Tidewater towns and plantations. The mineral springs will be revealed as one of America’s earliest healing landscapes, places of convergence and interest to landscape historians, historical landscape architects, preservationists and contemporary designers. In addition to the springs’ waters, the landscape of the mineral springs was central to the springs’ restorative and healing qualities. Their distinctive landscape compositions included a modest hotel flanked by cottages or “rows” of guesthouses, enclosing a central park-like green space. The larger landscape included channelized streams, spring houses, bath houses, gazebos, bowling alleys, ballrooms, pavilions, ponds, icehouses, privies, walks and gardens. Circuits through the landscape and other outdoor physical activities were an important part of daily regimens prescribed by doctors. Over 80 Virginia mineral springs have been identified. The defining features of a significant number of spring landscapes are intact. Today, in a time of increased interest in heritage landscapes, healing landscapes, and tourism, they are an extraordinary resource for interpretation and rehabilitation. | |
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