the Medical Arts Building

The Medical Arts Building at 236 Central Avenue in downtown Hot Springs is a 16-floor Art Deco structure which rose in 1929 to become the tallest building in Arkansas. It remained the tallest building in the state until the 1960's and held offices for fifty-five physicians and five commercial businesses. The towering structure sits directly across from the historic Arlington Hotel, which can be viewed from above while standing on the 15th floor balcony. Most of the medical offices were vacant by the 1980's, with the last doctor moving his practice from the site in 1991. Abandoned for over 25 years, the Medical Arts building still stands as an architectural wonder in the area and is protected from demolition by it's listing on the National Register of Historic Places. There are no current plans for (a very expensive) full-scale renovation as the building is owned by multiple entities. The site once advertised as the “Skyscraper of Health” now sits empty, but remains the most prominent building in Hot Springs and a testament to the city's past as an oasis for those seeking medical treatment or healthful recreation.