EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, Mo. – Excelsior Springs, founded on natural spring water in 1880, once spouted what some claimed was a medical miracle. Later, it was discovered that the town’s spring water was not a miraculous medicine; rather, it was water surging with minerals that helped people with bodily ailments. One such mineral water included traces of calcium (calcic), a bicarbonate discovered in the historic Lithia Wells.
Calcic-bicarbonate water, which lies underneath the city’s surface, is a combination of calcium, carbonate, and bicarbonate ions. It occurs at shallow depths as the water is surrounded by rocks that contain sediment with minerals and naturally occurring metals.
According to Dennis Hartman, a longtime resident, research writer, and member of the Friends of the Wells Committee, there are over 40 wells in Excelsior Springs, and 17 of them are associated with Litha Water. These 17 wells contain a copious amount of calcic bicarbonate and magnesium sulfate. He noted that the water from the Litha Wells was sweet to taste and was predominantly used to bottle soda.
A sample test conducted in 1904 also found that a few Lithia Wells contained trace amounts of Lithia Chloride. Hartman said those wells were referenced as having a calming component in the water due to the sleepy effect it had on people.
Often, people would visit Excelsior Springs to use the miraculous Litha Water to “cure” various ailments. In 1904, the Lithia Water Wells claimed to aid people suffering from insomnia, hysteria, diabetes, and various other disabilities.
Hartman said the most common reason people drank lithia water was to “eliminate uric acid.”
According to Healthline.com, uric acid is a result of bodily waste produced in the liver. If someone has a high level of uric acid, it can lead to gout and kidney stones. When people sought out the Lithia Wells in Excelsior Springs, it made sense why they said they felt better, as the calcic-bicarbonate water eliminated the uric acid and began to break down kidney stones.
In a testimonial published in the Excelsior Times on October 12, 1888, T.E. Brown recounted how he had heard about the healing properties of Excelsior Springs’ waters, including the Lithia water while suffering from severe rheumatism—chronic pain and inflammation in his joints and connective tissues. With his doctor having given up on him, Brown left Kansas City and traveled to Excelsior Springs, hoping for a last chance at recovery.
Upon arrival, Brown reported weighing only 90 pounds, and he was in such pain that even his wife’s touch caused discomfort. During his five-week stay, he drank the water daily but never bathed in it. By the end of his treatment, he felt he had finally overcome his illness. Brown returned to Kansas City 40 pounds heavier and, to his surprise, with new hair growth on his previously bald head—he attributed this unexpected benefit to the minerals in the local waters.
Although the Lithia wells in Excelsior Springs have been dormant for decades, their original sites remain a foundational part of the community’s history. While many of these locations are now covered by homes and businesses, several sites have been preserved for admiration, including the Lithia No. 1 well, now marked by a gazebo at 245 East Broadway in the heart of the Excelsior Springs Historic District. These sites will always serve as the legacy that paved the way for Excelsior Springs.
Other locations of the remaining 16 Lithia Wells include:
- The Montezuma Lithia Springs is located at 200 East Broadway Avenue
- The Callermen Well, also known as the Lithiated Soda Well and pavilion, is located at 302 West Excelsior Street.
- The Lithium Magneese and Seltzer Salt Soda Spring is at 334 East Foley Street.
- The Crytal Lithia Well is located at 400 Benton Avenue with a rebuilt pavilion for visitors to view.
- The Imperial Lithia Spring, located at 406 Isely Boulevard
- Salt Sea Spring and Keystone Lithia Spring Located at 200 South Thompson Avenue
- Park Lithia Spring is located at 201 East Broadway.
- Peerless Lithia Spring is located at 203 East Excelsior Street.
- Willow Park Lithia Spring is located at 207 East Excelsior Street.
- Mee Lithia Pavilion is located at 302 East Excelsior Street.
- Relief Lithia Well and Pavilion, located near Caldwell Avenue
- Electric Lithian Well is located at 218 South Street
- The Soterian Litha Well is located near Lake Maurer Road south of Wabash
- Sunnyside Lithia Well and Pavilion is Located in Sunnyside Park along Dunbar Avenue.
- Blue Rock Lithia Spring, known as Old Smith Spring, is located near the intersection of Orrick Road and Seybold Road.
- Montrose Lithia Well located 1.5 miles at an unknown location in downtown Excelsior Springs
The Friends of the Wells Committee has recently initiated efforts to restore the mineral water wells in Excelsior Springs. They are currently exploring options to revitalize several wells, including Lithia Well No. 1, beginning with assessments of water quality.
The Committee invites those interested in the well sites and restoration project to get involved by visiting https://friendsofthewells.org/. Supporters can also purchase a copy of Hartman’s upcoming book detailing the history of the wells, which is expected to be released before the Christmas holiday.
This is part one of a series of articles exploring the history of the unique mineral waters found in Excelsior Springs.
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