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Making America's Best Idea Even Better
Fort Smith National Historic Sitedetail of postcard showing old fort with quartermaster building and powder magazine
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Fort Smith National Historic Site
History & Culture

history & culture includes:

People
Places
Stories
Collections
 
 
detail from a vintage postcard of officers quarters in distance and guard house on right with stone fort wall

Postcard
Collection of Fort Smith NHS

Officer's Quarters, Guardhouse and Fort Walls

The stories told at Fort Smith National Historic Site span the years 1817-1896. Soldiers, laundresses, Native Americans, civilians, federal judges and marshals, deputy marshals, jail guards, lawyers, and outlaws all played a role in the history that unfolded here. 
 
jailers in uniform on courthouse steps

FOSM Collection

U.S. Jailers at Fort Smith

The federal court at Fort Smith employed a large number of people during the time it had jurisdiction over Indian Territory. Click here for more information the deputy marshals and other court officials.
Judge Parker as he looked when he arrived at Fort Smith in 1875.
Judge Parker c. 1875
biography, speeches, interviews, obituary, and other information on Parker
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drawing detail showing execution of Cherokee Bill with condemned standing on gallows
Executions at Fort Smith
From 1873 through 1896, eighty-six men were executed on the gallows at Fort Smith.
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posed picture of deputy marshals holding rifles
U.S. Deputy Marshals
The federal court employed deputy marshals, baliffs, jailers, and other court personnel.
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foundation remains of first fort overlooking Arkansas River  

Did You Know?
The U.S. Army selected a spot overlooking the confluence of the Arkansas and Poteau Rivers for the site of a fort. Soldiers from the Rifle Regiment arrived in 1817 and named the site Fort Smith after their commanding officer, Thomas A. Smith.

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Last Updated: November 03, 2009 at 14:23 EST