"History is Inextricably Linked to the Ghost Stories": The Crescent Hotel (Part One)

The Crescent Hotel, known by some as  "America's Most Haunted Hotel," may be the most famous haunted site in Arkansas. The Crescent was built in Eureka Springs in 1886 as a place for the wealthy to rest and take advantage of the natural springs, which were believed to have healing properties by Native American tribes from different areas. During the 128 years since the first grand opening, the building has served as a hotel, a women's college, and a cancer "treatment" center. By 1946, the Crescent had become a hotel once more. We had the pleasure to spend a night in the allegedly-haunted Crescent on Wednesday, March 26.

The Crescent is a particularly famous staple of Arkansas urban legends - SyFy's Ghost Hunters visited the hotel in 2005, putting Eureka Springs in the national spotlight. Naturally, this became a must-visit location for us during our Odyssey. We booked a room and two ghost tour tickets before setting off for Eureka Springs. Our goal was to immerse ourselves in a well-known haunted hotel and to gain an understanding of how important these tales were to the Crescent and the surrounding community. Their importance quickly became apparent.

Situated on the top of a crescent-shaped mountain above the historic district of Eureka Springs, the Crescent is surrounded by history. Upon entering the lobby, we did not notice large banners proclaiming that the hotel was haunted. However, there were smaller signs and pamphlets near the front desk advertising the tours and a gift shop with ghost-related memorabilia. Another thing we noticed is that, while the hotel has been restored several times, the Victorian feel of the building has been preserved. The room keys are large and heavy, old pianos stand against the walls, and the trimmings and pillars are ornate.

Concierge Desk and Gift Shop

Our Room

After spending some time exploring the hotel, we wanted to visit the historic district of the city.

Eureka Springs certainly has an "Old World" feel, with numerous specialty shops in Victorian-style buildings lining narrow streets. At the base of the mountain is the Basin Park Hotel, which is the Crescent's sister hotel. Basin Park is allegedly-haunted as well, although we did not have the opportunity to explore this further. The historical atmosphere is certainly maintained by the presence of two turn-of-the-century hotels. We did not notice any shops directly attempting to cash-in on the Crescent's haunted past; that being said, the hotels are important to the surrounding community as they do draw tourists and visitors into historic Eureka Springs.

That evening, we took the ghost tour, which covered several important rooms and locations throughout the hotel that have stories attached to them, including the morgue in the basement where the infamous Norman G. Baker worked (and supposedly continues to haunt) during the Crescent's time as a cancer treatment center. The tour will be covered in a separate post.

At 10:30 p.m., we, along with other hotel guests, stood in the courtyard watching the third floor balcony - allegedly, a spirit appears to jump from the balcony. While the Crescent was a women's college, a girl committed suicide after becoming pregnant; some say she was pushed by the headmaster of the school. We did not see anything that night, but this is one of the more enduring tales from the hotel's history.

In the morning, there was a second Haunted Room Tour, of which we took advantage. In order to avoid spoiling the experience for future visitors, we'll spare some of the details. The tour stopped at several rooms, some of which overlapped with the main ghost tour, and the guide gave a brief history of each room. One of these included the penthouse suite where Norman Baker lived - he apparently had hidden passages throughout the Crescent which he used to spy on his patients.

In the end, we did not see any ghosts ourselves. People have sworn over the years, including a few people on our tour, that they have had paranormal experiences in the Crescent. Regardless of whether or not spirits continue to walk the Victorian halls of the Crescent Hotel, the stories draw people from across the state and country to Eureka Springs. Like Hot Springs, Eureka Springs was once known as a source of healing waters. This tradition continues in the form of an in-house spa. Almost as a reflection of the past, weekend packages are offered aimed at enhancing the well-being of visitors. Today, history and ghostly legends bring people to this part of northwest Arkansas. The Crescent has come close to closing permanently several times over the decades. Thankfully, the building's past and hauntings have saved the beautiful Crescent Hotel.

Old State House Museum

Hello readers!

We apologize for the delay in posts! We have had a few weeks of extremely busy schedules.

On Saturday, March 8, we made a trip to Little Rock to begin our search for centers of folklore and stories. Our first stop was the Old State House Museum.

The Old State House (OHS) is Arkansas's original capitol building; construction began in 1833 and was completed in 1842. When Arkansas gained its statehood in 1836, the legislators began to use the building despite continued construction. After 75 years of use, the Old State House was replaced in 1911 by the current Capitol building. The landmark went through a series of different uses until it became a museum in 1947, and was overseen by the new Arkansas Commemorative Commission.

A number of notable events have occurred in the halls of the OSH. In 1837, only a year after Arkansas became a state, a fatal knife fight broke out in the House of Representatives Chamber on the second floor. The argument began after Rep. J.J. Anthony subtly insulted Speaker of the House John Wilson during a debate on how to fund a bounty on wolf pelts. Accounts differ on who first pulled their weapon, but within moments, Anthony lay dead with a knife through his heart.

House of Representatives Chamber

In 1861, the OSH saw Arkansas secede from the Union. Over the course of the war, the building became the Confederate and later the Union state capitol. During Reconstruction, the Brooks-Baxter War broke out concerning a dispute over who was the proper governor. Elisha Baxter was elected governor, but Joseph Brooks led a small militia that ousted Baxter. A two-month civil war broke out until the federal government declared Baxter the rightful governor. Somewhere between 40-200 people died during the conflict.

Throughout its illustrious history, the Old State House has gathered a few ghost stories. Some employees claim they have heard noises in empty rooms; that they sometimes feel an unsettling chill; and that objects move when no one is looking.

Some claim that the Representatives Chamber is haunted, possibly because of the murder of J.J. Anthony. Others say that the ghost of a dejected Brooks walks the halls of the OSH. According to one employee, a paranormal crew visited the building and claimed to have found a spirit. However, she has never experienced anything herself. Whether ghosts walk the halls or not is still up for question, but stories continue to persist.

While we have no evidence either way, the preservation of the building and the historical displays throughout show that Arkansans hold their history dear. One of the current and more modern exhibits is titled "Lights, Camera, Arkansas!", which documents various films that were either filmed in Arkansas or had actors with Arkansas ties.

Lights, Camera, Arkansas!

Media becomes an important way for Arkansas to express its people and folklore. For example, there was a movie poster for the Legend of Boggy Creek. The movie was based off an urban legend that spread through south Arkansas.

People find it important to recognize their tales, be it through ghost stories, movies, or recorded history. These help build the cultures and values of our community, allowing us to remember and relive our past in one way or another. Our visit to the Old State House directed us to this important facet of culture.