During the Gold Rush era of the early 20th Century it was called Arctic Hot Springs. Today it is known as Serpentine Hot Springs. People of this area hunt, trap, bathe, and conduct traditional healing practices near the hot springs.
Inupiat traditions say that the valley is the home of powerful spirits.
The Past 100 Years Charles McLennan arrived by dog team in May 1900 and may have been the first non-native to have seen the hot springs. The airstrip probably dates from the early 1940's and the large cabin sleeping accomodations from the late 1940's. The bathhouse was built by the village of Shishmaref in the mid 1970's. Traditional healing practices rooted in Inupiaq culture are still practiced today. Each year the Traditional Medicine Program of the Maniilaq Association, based in Kotzebue, holds sessions at the hot springs.