1943 Medical Arts Building Hot Springs AR Postcard

About This Vintage Postcard

This classic linen-era postcard depicts the Medical Arts Building in Hot Springs, Arkansas, a premier example of Art Deco skyscraper architecture in the South. Completed in 1930, the 16-story structure was the tallest building in Arkansas for three decades. The illustration highlights its distinctive tiered "setback" design and vertical fluting, set against the lush greenery of the surrounding Ouachita Mountains.

Details

Era: Linen (1943)
City: Hot Springs
State or Region: Arkansas
Country: United States
Topic: Medical Arts Building, Art Deco Skyscrapers, Hot Springs National Park History, Arkansas Architecture
Condition: Circulated
Postage: 1 Cent George Washington Stamp; Postmarked Malvern, ARK, July 18, 1951
Address Side: divided back
Orientation: Vertical (Portrait)
Artist / Photographer: Unknown
Publisher: Jackson News Agency, Hot Springs, Arkansas
Printer: Colourpicture Publication, Boston
Print Type: Offset Lithography, Halftone

Additional Information

Known as the "Skyscraper of Health," the Medical Arts Building originally housed 55 physician offices and was a hub for the city's thriving medical tourism industry. The back of the card features a handwritten message postmarked in 1951 from Malvern, Arkansas, addressed to Spring City, Pennsylvania, mentioning the "swell" but "hot" weather. The printer, Colourpicture Publication of Boston, was a major producer of these textured linen cards during the mid-20th century. Today, the building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and remains an iconic part of the Hot Springs skyline.