Warm Springs Pools
Now kept dry for the sake of
preservation, the pools were
once filled with warm water.
Now kept dry for the sake of
preservation, the pools were
once filled with warm water.
Historic Pools Museum
The historic structure
surrounding the pools now
contains a museum detailing
their history.
The historic structure
surrounding the pools now
contains a museum detailing
their history.
Historic Pools Museum - Warm Springs, Georgia
ExploreSouthernHistory.com - Historic Pools Museum at Warm Springs
ExploreSouthernHistory.com - Historic Pools Museum at Warm Springs
| Warm Springs Treatment Pools The historic pools, now managed as a museum by the State of Georgia, were sought out by victims of polio, including President Franklin Roosevelt. |
Warm Springs Treatment Pools
It is said that Native American warriors of the
Creek and other Indian nations sought out
the natural warm springs of Pine Mountain,
Georgia, in the belief that they held special
medicinal properties that helped with the
healing of battle wounds and other injuries.
This belief was passed on to early settlers
and in 1832 a man named David Rose first
tapped the springs for use as a health resort.
Over the century that followed, thousands of
people in need of either healing or rest from
their daily lives came to Warm Springs,
Georgia, for help and renewal. Among them
was Franklin Delano Roosevelt, a man
destined to become the 32nd President of
the United States.
Stricken with polio in 1929, Roosevelt had
been the Democratic nominee for Vice
President the previous year and had already
served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy in
the administration of President Woodrow
Wilson. He lost the use of his legs due to the
horrible disease, but soon discovered that
swimming in warm water eased his pain and
helped him to feel stronger.
This discovery led the future President to
Warm Springs, Georgia, in 1924. A resort
there offered pools filled with 88-degree
water from natural springs. Roosevelt
became a believer in the benefits of aqua-
therapy and purchased the springs and a
surrounding 1,700 acre farm with help from
philanthropist Basil O'Connor in 1927.
Warm Springs then became the center of the
Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for
Rehabilitation, which continues his work to
this day. Thousands of patients came to the
institute during the first of the 20th century, a
large majority of them victims of the polio
epidemics that ravaged and terrified the
nation. Although the disease was eradicated
by the discovery of a vaccine fifty years ago,
as many as 1,000,000 victims of polio
remained alive as recently as 2005. Around
100 people per year still come to the Warm
Creek and other Indian nations sought out
the natural warm springs of Pine Mountain,
Georgia, in the belief that they held special
medicinal properties that helped with the
healing of battle wounds and other injuries.
This belief was passed on to early settlers
and in 1832 a man named David Rose first
tapped the springs for use as a health resort.
Over the century that followed, thousands of
people in need of either healing or rest from
their daily lives came to Warm Springs,
Georgia, for help and renewal. Among them
was Franklin Delano Roosevelt, a man
destined to become the 32nd President of
the United States.
Stricken with polio in 1929, Roosevelt had
been the Democratic nominee for Vice
President the previous year and had already
served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy in
the administration of President Woodrow
Wilson. He lost the use of his legs due to the
horrible disease, but soon discovered that
swimming in warm water eased his pain and
helped him to feel stronger.
This discovery led the future President to
Warm Springs, Georgia, in 1924. A resort
there offered pools filled with 88-degree
water from natural springs. Roosevelt
became a believer in the benefits of aqua-
therapy and purchased the springs and a
surrounding 1,700 acre farm with help from
philanthropist Basil O'Connor in 1927.
Warm Springs then became the center of the
Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for
Rehabilitation, which continues his work to
this day. Thousands of patients came to the
institute during the first of the 20th century, a
large majority of them victims of the polio
epidemics that ravaged and terrified the
nation. Although the disease was eradicated
by the discovery of a vaccine fifty years ago,
as many as 1,000,000 victims of polio
remained alive as recently as 2005. Around
100 people per year still come to the Warm
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Springs Institute from around the world to
benefit from the services provided by the staff
there.
The historic pools once used by President
Roosevelt and thousands of others are now
preserved as a museum operated by the
State of Georgia.
Located on Alternate U.S. 27 in Warm
Springs, the Historic Pools Museum is now
operated as part of the Roosevelt's Little
White House Historic Site. They are open to
the public daily.
Please click here to visit the official Little
White House site for more information.
benefit from the services provided by the staff
there.
The historic pools once used by President
Roosevelt and thousands of others are now
preserved as a museum operated by the
State of Georgia.
Located on Alternate U.S. 27 in Warm
Springs, the Historic Pools Museum is now
operated as part of the Roosevelt's Little
White House Historic Site. They are open to
the public daily.
Please click here to visit the official Little
White House site for more information.
Pools at Warm Springs
The pools once served as
part of an important treatment
program.
The pools once served as
part of an important treatment
program.
Restored Pool Complex
The historic pools and related
structures have been restored
and now serve as a museum.
The historic pools and related
structures have been restored
and now serve as a museum.
The Little White House
Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park
Dowdell's Knob on Pine Mountain
Warm Springs, Georgia
Historic Sites & Points of Interest
Historic Sites in Georgia
Explore other Southern Historic Sites
Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park
Dowdell's Knob on Pine Mountain
Warm Springs, Georgia
Historic Sites & Points of Interest
Historic Sites in Georgia
Explore other Southern Historic Sites
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| Copyright 2011 by Dale Cox All rights reserved. |