Bimini Baths

Bimini Baths (also, Bimini Hot Springs and Sanitarium;[1] currently Bimini Slough Ecology Park) was a geothermal mineral water public bathhouse and plunge in what is now Koreatown, Los Angeles, California, US. It was situated just west of downtown, near Third Street and Vermont Avenue. Bimini Baths contained a natatorium, swimming pools, swimming plunge, Turkish baths, a medical treatment department, and bottling works.[2][3]

An exterior view of the Bimini Hot Springs building, circa 1920

History

In the 19th century, the area was a 45 acres (18 ha) marsh with 104 °F (40 °C) natural hot springs. The waters were discovered during oil drilling exploration. They were discovered by a man who was boring for oil at a depth of 1,750 feet (530 m) under 3 feet (0.91 m) of solid white marble.[2] Named after the Bahamian island of Bimini,[4] the venue was owned and operated by Dr. David W. Edwards, president and treasurer of the Bimini Water Company; and David W. Edwards, Jr. served as vice president and secretary.[3] The company was founded December 31, 1902.[2] In 1903, the bath house opened.[3] In the following year, Bimini Hotel was built across the street, and the spring waters were pumped to it. In 1917, J. J. Warrick was manager of the baths and sanitarium.[5] An outdoor pool was added to the baths in 1921.[4] Mexicans were only allowed into the Bimini Baths "when it was too dirty for whites to swim in" it.[6]

Besides the baths, the Bimini Water Company delivered plain and carbonated water to Los Angeles residents. The company provided the water prior to 1915 when the city mains installation occurred.[4][7] The business went bankrupt in 1951 and the buildings were demolished in 1956.[3]

In the present day, the springs area has become Bimini Slough Ecology Park, featuring native plant stands and a creekbed. The hotel has become headquarters for the Mary Lind Foundation.[4]

Hot springs

The well was reported to yield 100 gallons a minute of water at a temperature of 104 °F. The primary alkalinity of the water gave it a peculiar soft feeling that led to the nickname, "the velvet baths." The well was drilled 1,750 feet (530 m) deep in Tertiary age sediments that make up the oil formation in this locale.[8] Containing no sulphur, it carries a large quantity of sodium carbonate and sodium chloride, with some potassium chloride, magnesium carbonate, iron, alumina, and free carbonic acid.[2]

Architecture and fittings

The large wooden building contained a 50-yard main pool, a separate pool for women, and other private pools. In addition, the venue had a cafe, pool observation balcony, and 500 dressing rooms.[9] The original building was destroyed in 1905 during a fire. It was rebuilt in 1906 in Mission revival style by a design of Thornton Fitzhugh.[4] The new construction featured a Turkish Bath, additional pools, and rooftop gardens.[10] The bathing resort also featured a sanitarium. Tub baths and three large swimming plunges were available for the public. A sanitarium hotel nearby was under the same management.[8]

References
  • This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: G. Waring's "Water-supply Paper" (1915)
  1. Polk's Medical Register and Directory of North America (Public domain ed.). Polk. 1914. p. 2230.
  2. "Bimini Water Company". Los Angeles Herald (Volume 32, Number 337). 3 September 1905. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  3. "Bimini Hot Springs, Los Angeles, Cal". Loyola Marymount University, William H. Hannon Library. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  4. Rasmussen, Cecilia (January 25, 2004). "At Site of Former Baths, History Still Runs Deep". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  5. Merrill, Frederick James Hamilton; California State Mining Bureau (1917). Mines and mineral resources of Los Angeles County, Orange County, Riverside County (Public domain ed.). California state printing office. p. 48.
  6. Knowles, Mark (28 August 2013). The Man Who Made the Jailhouse Rock: Alex Romero, Hollywood Choreographer. McFarland. p. 44. ISBN 978-1-4766-0368-1.
  7. Nichols, Chris (January 25, 2013). "Video Village With Ask Chris: The Long-Lost Bimini Baths Of Koreatown". Los Angeles Magazine. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  8. Waring, Gerald A. (1915). Water-supply Paper (Public domain ed.). U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 71.
  9. Stargel, Cory; Stargel, Sarah (August 2010). Vanishing Los Angeles County. Arcadia Publishing. p. 50. ISBN 978-0-7385-8100-2.
  10. "Bimini Hot Springs, Los Angeles, Cal". Calisphere, a service of the UC Libraries. Retrieved 28 November 2014.

Further reading
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