The Mineral Springs Hotel opened in 1914. Early advertising boasted that the hotel featured the “largest swimming pool in Illinois”, mineral spring “cures”, and the biggest table in the city of Alton, said to seat 26 people. The hotel was started in 1913 by August F. Ratz who purchased the site of the former Illinois Packing Company at the corner of Broadway & Alton. Construction was started in October 1913 with the excavation of the swimming pool. The hotel held its grand opening in September 1914 and a number of rooms were added in 1925.