Fort Smith was established as a military outpost to patrol the neighboring Indian Territory in 1817 and was named after General Thomas Smith. The fort was abandoned seven years later in 1824, but by that time a town founded by John Rogers was formed alongside the fort. The fort was re-occupied and expanded in 1838. Although the original Fort Smith no longer exists, the land is now part of the Fort Smith National Historic site.
Founded by area women in 1910, the Fort Smith Museum of History originally occupied the 1840's Commissary Building of the second Fort Smith. Following the acquisition of the property by the National Park Service, the Museum moved to the Atkinson-Williams Building, a four-story National Register structure located a half block away. The building below was home to the court of Judge Isaac Parker. (2nd picture)
Judge Parker's court.
Although the gallows, where many convicted people from his court were executed does not exist, the below replica was made using an existing picture.
While there, we walked a trail down by the Arkansas River to the Trail of Tears Overlook. Although the overlook was washed away during the flooding of May 2019, this photo shows what the site looked like before the flood.
Zooming in from the same spot of the overlook, off in the distance, is a barge navigating its way up the Arkansas River
We went to the visitor's center in town, known as Miss Laura's Visitors Center. This building was built in 1898 and was the Riverfront Commercial Hotel. In 1898, Laura Ziegler of Vermont purchased the building and after remodeling, re-opened it as a brothel in 1903.
On the grounds of this National Historic site, there was a marker
that became the boundary. For some 65 years after the boundary was established,
only Indians were allowed to settle west of this line. The original stone
marker is on display in the Visitors Center.
Also on the grounds is a line signifying the Indian Territory and Arkansas
Did you keep an eye out for Grammie? Which picture was she in?
For a tour of the site visit the link below.
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