• Rifle Regiment arriving at Belle Point, 1817. Artwork by Michael Haynes

    Fort Smith

    National Historic Site AR,OK

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  • Road Construction I-540

    Traveling West on I-40? To avoid construction delays, do not take Exit 7 (I-540 S). Stay on I-40 west and take Exit 1 Dora. Stay on Hwy 64D for 6 miles and follow signs to Fort Smith. After crossing over the river, turn right on 4th ST & right on Garland. More »

Virtual Tour of the Grounds

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Civil War Replica Cannon

NPS Photo

Walking Distance: ~ 1.4 miles

Fort Smith National Historic Site is authorized 75 acres. There are 37 acres in the park. Most of the remainder is located on the Oklahoma shore of the Arkansas River and the park is working with the town of Moffett to protect this shoreline from development in order to maintain a resemblance of what this area looked like during the historic period. This shoreline is visible while traveling a major leg of the tour along the Riverwalk Trail, a sidewalk that travels approximately 1,500’ along the confluence of the Arkansas and Poteau Rivers.

The tour starts at the Memorial Gate wall located on the northwest edge of the National Historic Site.

 
Stop I - Memorial Gate Entrance Stop IX - Frisco Station
Stop II - The Replica Gallows Stop X - Guard House
Stop III - Parking Lot Gazebo Stop XI - Commissary
Stop IV - Railroad Crossing Stop XII - Officers' Quarters
Stop V - Initial Point Marker Stop XIII - Officers' Garden
Stop VI - Belle Point Stop XIV - Parade Grounds
Stop VII - Trail of Tears Overlook Stop XV - Barracks/Courthouse/Jail
Stop VIII - Miss Laura's
 

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Did You Know?

Park staff and volunteers demonstrating using lindstock and slowmatch to ignite the cannon's primer

The soldiers who came to Fort Smith in 1817 were still using some 18th century technology and drill. The cannon was discharged using a lindstock and slowmatch to ignite the primer, which originally was loose powder or a turkey quill filled with powder.