Excelsior Springs owes its existence to a spring discovered by accident in 1880. It was developed and promoted by the Rev. John Van Buren Flack, D.D. and named 'Excelsior' after Longfellow's much quoted poem. The name was later changed to Siloam and it is housed under the Hall of Waters today.

1917 - Siloam Pavilion, first unit of Siloam Gardens, built at cost of $40,000