pioneer museum

The Pioneer Museum provides a refreshing look at life in the Hot Springs area, including more recent history. The exhibits are most interesting, including a look at what it was like to visit a doctor many years ago. I plan to return next summer, as one could spend hours here. The staff at the museum was exceptionally welcoming.

I arrived in Hot Springs on October 16. The tourist season ends on October 15. I did not get to see any of the displays inside the building. The school itself was of interest to me as I was formerly an elementary teacher. Even the small train depot visitor center was closed for the season.

Lots of local artifacts from life in the late 1800's and early 1900's, well organized, and located in an interesting historical building.

The museum is mainly open in the summer, but there the most interesting aspects are the very elderly (and lively!) folks who greet you at the door and take your money. After that, it's all down hill. Plenty of typical old junk trying to pass as history, a shrine to Hot Springs High School Bison Football Team seems the main theme, and it is not climate controlled. Rare textiles, photographs and furs rot in the summer heat and humidity, and is shocked by bitter cold temperatures in the winter. There was a major theft of items earlier in the year, so a whole top floor of the old school house seems off limits. What's left, in our opinion, ain't worth stealing, much less paying to see. The antique and junk shops in town have better items on display. If you're looking for railroad or true pioneer history, you will be grossly disappointed.

This is a great and impressive museum. I am sure glad that we decided to go here. I like the fact that they had a variety of different items. Overall, this museum is wonderful. I recommend that you take the time and look at everything that is no longer around. This museum is truly a "gem." The building was built in 1897 from sandstone from the local quarries.

This was a school until 1982 and it's a truly lovely museum. The woman at the front door was very pleasant and informative. This is a place I would recommend. There is an old and VERY slow elevator for ADA if needed.

We couldn't decide what we liked best -- the outstanding collection of turn-of-the-century artifacts or the building itself. It's a 4-story sandstone building on top of a hill in the center of Hot Springs. It was built in 1893 and was an operating elementary school until 1961. The classrooms still have the original blackboards -- on all 4 walls and even in between the windows. And the school bell, with a 4-story chain, is still operable! The collections themselves are grouped by "type" -- kitchen, parlor, military, toys, tools, etc. There's a complete display of a dental station, circa 1950, also an entire medical office. There is lots of signage, so you don't have to guess at the function of whatever piece you stumble across. AND there's an actual "iron lung" in the little outbuilding. This museum is well worth the nominal entrance fee ($4 senior).