Kidney Springs Gazebo
City skyline
⛲ Kidney Springs Gazebo
Address:
North River Street & Minnekahta Avenue, Hot Springs, SD
Built: 1927 (current structure)
Architectural Style:
Octagonal neo-classic pavilion with exposed rafters influenced by Japanese pagodas
Historic Use:
Mineral spring shelter & public gathering space
Current Use:
Public park landmark and historic mineral spring access
📜 Historical Overview
A landmark since the late 1800s, the present Kidney Springs Gazebo—built in 1927—is the third structure at this location, replacing two earlier springhouses destroyed by flooding. The site’s story reaches back to 1893, when a native sandstone springhouse was built and crowned with Minnehaha, a statue by local sculptor James Riordan. Mineral water from the spring was long promoted for its kidney-cleansing benefits, attracting locals and visitors who drank directly at the fountain and often filled containers to take the health-giving water home.
The current octagonal pavilion, designed by Hot Springs architect John P. Eisentraut, blends classical and Japanese influences: eight Doric columns support a hipped roof with exposed rafters, and a warm spring-fed fountain still flows inside beneath a plaque listing the water’s mineral content.
In 1985, local sculptor Mike Tuma added The Gift, the bronze sculpture that crowns the roof. The City of Hot Springs restored the gazebo in 2014 with assistance from the Business Improvement District (BID), ensuring its continued role as both a visual centerpiece and a living link to the city’s mineral-water heritage.
🕰 Timeline
- 1893 – First sandstone springhouse built with lion’s head fountain and Minnehaha statue by James Riordan
- 1897 – First structure partially destroyed by flood
- 1901 – Second wooden octagon springhouse with small spire built
- 1922 – Second structure destroyed by flood
- 1927 – Current octagonal gazebo built, designed by John P. Eisentraut
- 1985 – The Gift sculpture added by Mike Tuma
- 2014 – Restoration by the City of Hot Springs & BID
QR Code Info:
Built in 1927, the Kidney Springs Gazebo is the third structure at this historic site, following two springhouses destroyed by floods. Designed by architect John P. Eisentraut, the octagonal gazebo combines neo-classical and Japanese architectural influences, featuring Doric columns and exposed rafters. The spring, promoted for its kidney-cleansing benefits, still flows beneath a plaque detailing its mineral content. The gazebo remains a key landmark in Kidney Springs Park.
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