Fort Smith National Historic Site
Fort Smith National Historic Site had its grand reopening of the Historic Barracks/Courthouse/Jail Building on Saturday, June 24, 2000. The historic building and park grounds have been undergoing a major $7.5 million rehabilitation project for the past three years. The ceremony included brief presentations by congressional leaders, National Park Service personnel, and area dignitaries. The opening ceremony was preceded by the dedication of the new overlook and educational panels along the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail. These panels were written and designed with the assistance of the Cherokee, Choctaw, Muscogee (Creek), Chickasaw, and Seminole tribes. The exhibits were funded by a grant from the National Park Foundation.
courtesy of the National Park Service |
Fort Smith National Historic Site, located in downtown Fort Smith, Arkansas, embraces the remains of two frontier forts and the nineteenth-century Federal Court for the Western District of Arkansas. The site commemorates a significant phase of America’s westward expansion, and stands today as a reminder of 80 turbulent years in the history of Federal Indian policy.
Since it was established as a national historic site in 1961, the site's property has increased and numerous non-historic buildings, streets and other structures have been removed in an attempt to restore the historic landscape for park visitors. The changes have included the rehabilitation of the commissary building; an accurate reproduction of the gallows; the adaptation of an RC Cola bottling plant into a maintenance facility; and the partial outlining of the old fort walls. Unfortunately, no funds were made available to renovate the historic barracks/courthouse/jail building for its intended use as a visitor center. The park’s building has served many purposes. The Federal Court moved into the former army barracks in 1872, using it as a courthouse and primitive jail. In 1887 a new jail was constructed adjacent to the courthouse. Although the courtroom had been restored in the late 1950s, the park simply adapted the 1934 welfare office renovations to serve its purpose until funds were appropriated to make improvements.
Recent Renovations
Thanks to the interest of numerous local people, in 1993 Congress directed the National Park Service to develop plans for the renovation of the historic barracks/courthouse/jail building and grounds, and the installation of new exhibits. In the fall of 1998, the final phase of funding was authorized. The renovated visitor center now includes a theatre, multi-purpose classroom/exhibit space, bookstore, and five exhibit areas. The new exhibits focus on Fort Smith’s military history from 1817 – 1871, Judge Isaac C. Parker and the Federal court’s impact on Indian Territory, U.S. Deputy Marshals and outlaws, Federal Indian policy, and Indian Removal including the Trail of Tears.
The expanded facility will allow the park to display more of their artifact and photography collection. In addition, several new artifact acquisitions have been made and generous loans and donations have been received from individuals and institutions. “Hanging Judge” Parker’s courtroom has been restored with reproduction 1880s court furnishings. The original “Hell on the Border” jail located beneath the courthouse and used from 1871-1889 has also been restored. In the main exhibit area, a partial, full-sized replica of the 1890s jail interior has been built using the original historic blueprints.
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courtesy of the National Park Service |
The new visitor center is a good place to begin your visit to Fort Smith NHS. It offers several audio/visual programs, including a 15-minute deputy marshal video, and video stations presenting Native American perspectives on Indian Removal, federal Indian policy, Indian Territory, and traditional culture.
The building’s exterior has been restored to reflect a more accurate 1890s appearance and the park grounds have undergone renovation in order to assist the visitors in understanding the park’s story. Visitors can also explore the various historic areas within the park grounds, including the site of the first fort (established in 1817), the reproduction of the 1886 gallows (where 79 criminals were hanged during Judge Parker's tenure), the historic commissary building. and the river trail to the Trail of Tears overlook.
For further information, contact the park at (501) 783-3961 or you can take a virtual tour of the park circa 1853. Fort Smith maintains an active education program for students of all ages.
Other resources:
Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism
Fort Smith Convention & Visitors
Bureau
National Parks in Arkansas
Western Arkansas Mountain Frontier
