Experience Excelsior Trip Planner 2021

IT STARTED WITH THE WATER, BUT THE PROGRESS KEEPS FLOWING
Excelsior Springs, the city with the
magic waters, came to be as a modern
dwelling in the year 1880. At the time,
it was basically a wheat field. From the
Fishing River, a spring water with a red
coloring flowed, becoming Siloam Spring
and the first of the mineral waters found
in Excelsior Springs. It is the only natural
supply of ferro-manganese mineral water
in the United States and one of only five
known worldwide. It’s also the spring that
paved the way for Excelsior Springs to
become what it is today.
The story goes like this: A local farmer,
Travis Mellion, was searching for help
for his daughter who was suffering from
tuberculosis. Mellion gave his daughter
water from the spring to drink and bathe
in. Within days, a drastic improvement
in her condition was observed; in just
weeks, she was cured. People took notice.
Another story of the healing properties of
the water comes from Civil War Veteran
Frederick Kuglar, who decided to test the
water on an unhealed gunshot wound. He,
too, found relief and a full recovery from
the waters.
From there, the owners of the property
platted the valley and formed a town.
Within a year’s time, 200 houses had
settled into the hilly terrace for newcomers
to call home. Visitors who had heard of the
magic waters came in droves, camping
in tents and covered wagons, to get their
hands on the waters.
After the discovery of the first water,
more than 40 more mineral water wells
and springs were identified, including
sodium bicarbonate, calcium bicarbonate
and saline sulphur. One of Excelsior’s
claims to fame is that we have more
groupings of mineral water than anywhere
else in the world. You read that correctly -
in the entire world!
Before long, visitors from larger
metropolitan areas caught interest in the
springs. Suddenly, due to high demand,
boarding houses and hotels were erected
and stage lines were put into place.
Excelsior continued to thrive with further
construction and expansion, even avoiding
the worst of the Great Depression thanks
to our status as a health resort oasis.
In the late 1950s, the good times took
a hit as some of the health benefits were
questioned and popularity of resort spa
towns declined.
Today, the springs still flow, although
access to them has diminished. City and
community civic groups are currently
working to restore mineral water pavilions
at as many sites as possible.
Our rich history helped make us what
we are, but we are even more than our
water. We have created a community with
deep roots in history and a huge passion
toward the future. We have two feet
moving forward while keeping an eye on
our past.
Our tourism industry is booming and
new businesses are opening up every
year, including new breweries, restaurants
and retail space with more to come in the
future.
We pride ourselves on being a unique,
charming town rich in history, culture and
forward momentum. We welcome you to
our town and hope you enjoy your time
here!
If you’d like to learn more about our
history, you can read about it at www.
VisitExcelsior.com or even better, learn
about it in person at the Excelsior Springs
Museum and the Hall of Waters.
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