Excelsior Springs, Mo. (Dec. 1, 2024) – Excelsior Springs, Missouri, owes its foundation to the rich mineral deposits beneath its surface, which gave rise to the community’s development. None of these mineral waters proved more transformative than the Iron-Manganese water, a discovery that shaped the city’s identity.
Dennis Hartman, a research writer and member of the Friends of the Wells Committee, explains that the Iron-Manganese waters in Excelsior Springs are chemically distinct from the area’s other mineral waters. These waters, rich in iron and manganese compounds, are found in shallow depths near iron-bearing rock layers, lending the water a reddish hue and a metallic taste.
Seven wells containing iron or manganese mineral compounds were discovered. Hartman said that out of the seven iron-manganese wells, the Siloam and Regent Springs were the most prominent wells in Excelsior Springs. They were the only two commercial iron-manganese waters in the United States out of six commercially sold iron-manganese waters in the world.
Although the healing properties of Excelsior Springs’ iron-manganese waters were reportedly well-known by Native Americans, the story of how the waters helped establish the city began in 1880. Travis Mellion, an African American farmer, visited what would become known as Siloam Spring on land owned by A.W. Wyman. By most accounts, Mellion was desperate to find a cure for his daughter, who suffered from scrofula—a form of tuberculosis affecting the lymph nodes—Mellion turned to the iron-rich water source. After drinking and bathing in the water, his daughter reportedly recovered, marking the spring as a place of miraculous healing.
Shortly after Mellion’s daughter was miraculously cured, another area farmer heard of her recovery and came seeking relief. Determined to treat his rheumatism and Civil War-era wounds, he decided to try the water. To his disbelief, his ailments were allegedly cured. As word spread like wildfire about the notable mineral water “cure,” people from near and far sought it out, transforming the area into a burgeoning community.
In the early years following the establishment of the small community, people would travel to the Siloam, bringing various containers such as cups, jars, and jugs to fetch the water. Later, a keg was installed into the ground, and a pump was added along with a platform for guests to gather what they thought to be a miracle cure for indigestion, cancer, kidney and liver ailments, tuberculosis, rheumatism, and a plethora of other health complications. The abundance of jugs throughout the city led to a nickname of “Jug Town.”
According to a 1933 article in the Daily Standard, there were “large 5-gallon bottles placed at advantageous and conspicuous locations thereby designating this city as a watering place and adding to the authenticity of the expression, ‘Jug Town.’ For ‘jug town,’ it is with the reasons, the mineral waters, for that expression being the cause for the city’s growth and, in the main, responsible for Excelsior Springs’ very existence.”
Fueled by claims of cures and clever marketing, the mineral water industry thrived, leading to the discovery of other waters and a booming tourist industry. The city eventually purchased Siloam Spring along with nine other springs, paving the way for the construction of the iconic Hall of Waters. This facility centralized the bottling and distribution of the city’s various mineral waters. Though Siloam Spring is no longer active, it lies dormant under the north lawn of the Hall of Waters, waiting to be “discovered” once again.
The iron-manganese wells remain a key piece of Excelsior Springs’ vibrant history. The known locations of wells containing iron-manganese are as follows:
- The Excelsior Spring located at 215 East Broadway Avenue
- Fowlers Magnaferro Spring and Inn is located at 118 West Excelsior Street.
- Lithium Magnesium Spring is located at 334 East Foley Street
- Regent Spring is located near the southwest intersection of Marietta and Richmond Streets.
- Steck’s Iron Spring is located southwest of the intersection of Thompson Avenue and River Street.
For additional information regarding the wells of Excelsior Springs, please visit the Excelsior Springs Museum and Archives or be on the lookout for Dennis Hartman’s up-and-coming Friends of the Wells book, set to be available for the Christmas holiday.
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