Located at the junction of the Poteau and Arkansas rivers, Fort Smith is a historically rich city along Arkansas’ border with Oklahoma. It was established as a frontier military post in 1817 and went on to become a fur trading hub, as well as a gateway for migrants settling in the “Wild West”.
Things to do in Fort Smith
Overlooking the Arkansas River is the Fort Smith National Historic Site, which preserves a fortress complex that was established in 1817. Follow the interpretive walking trail that leads through the grounds, taking in the original fort, the 1838-built commissary building and a reconstruction of the gallows once used by the federal court. Occupying the old barracks is a visitor’s centre detailing Fort Smith’s military past.
Nearby is the Fort Smith Museum of History, which occupies the 1906-built Atkinson-Williams Warehouse listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Learn about the development of the city throughout the 19th century and the legacy of William O. Darby, a locally-born brigadier who led what would become the United States Army Rangers.
Don’t miss the Fort Smith Trolley Museum, which boasts an impressive collection of railcars and an operating heritage streetcar line. Admire the Frisco 4003 steam locomotive and the 1939-built Twin Coach on display, as well as the working electric Birney streetcar. Adjacent to the museum is a Western-themed village where lively re-enactments of historic trolley robberies take place.
Getting around Fort Smith
Fort Smith Regional Airport is a 15-minute drive from the centre of Fort Smith and has regular flights to Dallas-Fort Worth. The much larger Will Rogers World Airport near Oklahoma City is three hours away. Regular trains connect to the Fort Smith railway station and buses travel throughout the city.