News Release

Fort Smith National Historic Site Announces Building Closure

Date: June 8, 2021
Contact: Nissa Mondahl, 479-629-0937

Fort Smith, AR – The Fort Smith National Historic Site Visitor Center/Museum is currently closed due to ongoing construction work. During this period, the park grounds and trails remain open from 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset. The Gallows and Commissary building also remain open during regular hours of operation, 9a.m. to 5 p.m. daily (except for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s), of which park rangers are available in front of the Visitor Center/Museum to provide visitor services and outdoor interpretive programming.

In January 2021, the park began a planned project to update the building’s HVAC system. However, in mid-February when the area experienced the coldest temperatures in recent history, a suppression system head froze, resulting in a water leak that damaged some areas of three floors in the Visitor Center/Museum. Demolition of the affected areas has been completed and are now undergoing reconstruction. The building is projected to reopen in late summer, at which time the park will assess the current CDC and Public Health guidance and apply them as necessary. 

For future updates, please visit our park website at www.nps.gov/fosm or follow us on social media via Facebook and Instagram.