News Release

Fort Smith National Historic Site Visitor Center/Museum to Re-Open

Date: October 26, 2021

Fort Smith, AR – Fort Smith National Historic Site is pleased to announce that the Visitor Center/ Museum will re-open to the public on a reduced occupancy basis beginning Monday, November 1, 2021. In order to achieve proper social distancing throughout the building, the limited number of visitors inside the building has been set at no more than 35 at one time. Hours of operation will be daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. The park grounds and trails will remain open from thirty minutes before sunrise to thirty minutes after sunset. Initially closed in March 2020 due to COVID-19, the Visitor Center/Museum suffered water damage due to a frozen sprinkler head caused by the extreme cold temperatures during the polar vortex of February 2021. Demolition of the affected areas was quickly addressed and the repair process is now complete. “We want to thank everyone for their patience, and we are very excited to open our doors again to the public”, says Park Superintendent Lisa Conard Frost. “Visitors to the site will once again be able experience Fort Smith’s nationally significant history within our historic building, through exhibits and interpretive media”. Current CDC and Public Health guidance is in effect at the National Historic Site. To promote our staff and visitor’s safety, masks are required in all NPS building and on all forms of enclosed public transportation, regardless of location or vaccination status. Additionally, masks must be work in outdoor spaces where physical distancing cannot be maintained, such as narrow or busy trails and overlooks. Individuals looking to get the COVID-19 vaccine can visit vaccines.gov or text their ZIP code to 438829 to find a location close to them and make an appointment.