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Fort Smith National Historic Siteold photo of commissary when used as museum
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Fort Smith National Historic Site
Commissary: Old Fort Museum
 
sepia tone photo of Commissary with handwritten text on front
 

To view a larger image of this postcard in a new window, click here.

At the end of the 19th century the Commissary was sold to a private owner. In 1910, a ladies' group acted to save the Commissary as a place to preserve the community's heritage. The Old Commissary Museum (later known as the Old Fort Museum) occupied the building for nearly 70 years, longer than either the army or the federal court.

This photo postcard shows the museum's sign on the building and two Civil War era cannons on the grounds. One of these cannons is still on the fort grounds and the other is on exhibit at the Fort Smith Museum of History (formerly known as the Old Fort Museum).

The postcard was published by McCann Photo Company, Fort Smith, Arkansas. Bob McCann's business was on Garrison Avenue in downtown Fort Smith and he published many postcards of the city.

The postcard below is a colorized, cropped version of his photograph of the Commissary.

To view the postcard below as a larger image in a new window, click here.

 
colorized photo of Commissary showing two people standing off to right
Commissary Building of Old Fort Smith
 
colorized postcard of Commissary with museum sign on building
Old Commissary Building
 
elevated view of Commissary
Commissary: Aerial View
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colorful foilage surrounds Commissary
Commissary: Fall Foilage
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bare tree on east side of Commissary
Commissary: North View in Winter
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Entrance to Visitor Center on south end of building  

Did You Know?
Fort Smith National Historic Site completed a major renovation of their Visitor Center in the summer of 2000.

Last Updated: September 08, 2006 at 18:18 EST