Original Springs Hotel and Bathhouse
Also known as: The Original
Why it's listed
Okawville's Original Mineral Springs Hotel and Bath House is a complex of buildings covering most of a city block. The two-story frame hotel, about 38 by 162 feet, and the two-story brick bath house, about 60 by 110 feet, were both built in 1892 and joined by an elevated wooden passageway. The hotel has a long wooden veranda, 30 guest rooms and a brick basement holding the kitchen, bar and dining room. The spring feeds a bricked cistern between the two buildings. The site began in 1867, when a saddler noticed his well water rusted tin kettles and analysis found minerals such as magnesium and sulphur. A small bath house was replaced after a fire in 1892. By 1900 the village drew St. Louis businessmen, and the hotel offered tennis, boating and masseurs as late as 1930. It is described as the last functioning nineteenth-century mineral-water spa in Illinois, and a good example of vernacular frame construction.
Significance in brief: The complex is described as the last functioning nineteenth-century mineral-water spa in Illinois. It reflects the late-1800s resort trade built around the supposed medicinal value of mineral springs, and drew visitors such as St. Louis businessmen. The hotel is also called a good example of vernacular frame construction, with a veranda well suited to hotel use.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 78001194, listed December 22, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 301 E. Walnut St., Okawville |
|---|---|
| County | Washington County |
| Listed | December 22, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78001194 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1892 - c. 1930 |
| Architectural style | Vernacular frame construction |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as little altered and still functioning as a hotel and spa; the form marks it occupied and in good condition. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 38.43406, -89.54820 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 78001194.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15264308
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.