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History and Heritage of Fort Smith Located downtown, the Fort Smith National Historic Site embraces the remains of two frontier forts and the Federal Court for the Western District of Arkansas. The site also commemorates a significant phase of America's westward expansion and stands as a reminder of 80 turbulent years in the history of federal Indian policy. The building that houses the visitors center and museum was completed in the 1840s and was first used as barracks by U.S. soldiers sent to maintain peace between Native American tribes that were relocated into the Indian Territory. The center, which recently underwent a $7.5-million renovation, contains a bookstore, 50-seat auditorium and exhibit areas that focus on Fort Smith's military history from 1817 to 1871, Judge Parker and the federal court's impact on Indian Territory, and U.S. Deputy Marshals and outlaws. The original "Hell on the Border" jail, notorious for its dark and dank conditions, is in the basement. In the main exhibit area stands a partial, full-sized replica of the 1888 jail, where visitors can step into one of the cells and view a 15-minute video. From his courtroom, which today contains reproduction 1880s furnishings, Judge Parker sentenced more people to hang than any other judge in American history (160), and 79 of those he sentenced met their fate at the end of a rope. Next to the courthouse stand the gallows, which are a reconstruction of the one used during Parker's time. A block from the historic site is the Fort Smith Museum of History, which has exhibits that cover a wide range of the city's past -- from life on the frontier and the Civil War to World War I and the Great Depression. The museum also houses an old-time working soda fountain, antique vehicles, toys and hundreds of vintage photos.
Located downtown in the 22-block Belle Grove Historic District, Miss Laura's serves as the city's tourist information center. The restored baroque Victorian home, built in 1900, is the only former bordello listed on the National Register of Historic Places. But Claud Legris, executive director for the Fort Smith Convention and Visitors Bureau, will tell visitors -- with a smile -- not to expect any "original hospitality" at Miss Laura's. In addition to information about the city, the center has exhibits and vintage photos that shed light on the lives the "working girls" led. Next to the historic site, the Fort Smith Trolley Museum offers rides on a restored 1926 electric streetcar. It makes half-mile runs between Fort Smith's Garrison Avenue and the U.S. National Cemetery, where both Confederate and Union soldiers -- and Judge Parker -- are buried. Since the Belle Grove Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in the 1970s, nearly 25 homes spanning 130 years and representing a variety of architectural styles have been restored -- and about half a dozen are open for tours. Visitors to the district can experience fine dining at the Romanesque-Victorian-style J.M. Sparks home (ca. 1887), which houses Taliano's Italian Restaurant. Please click here for more information about the Arts and Entertainment options in Fort Smith...
Talimena National Scenic Byway
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