Frisco Train Station

Frisco Train Station

NPS/Pat Schmidt

Quick Facts

Location:

North of the Commissary

OPEN TO PUBLIC:

No

Amenities

1 listed

Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits

Constructed in 1903, the station served as a passenger and freight depot for the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway Company. It continued to function as a passenger and freight depot until the 1960s.

The Frisco Railroad Station is a Classical Revival structure of ashlar limestone, quarried and transported from Missouri. The porch roofs at the east, south, and west elevations consist of heavily-bracketed roofs of mission style red clay tiles. When constructed the building featured a north facade portico with a two-story colonnade in front. The ten ornate columns, standard of the Classical Revival style, gave way to a grand entrance for white passengers. This feature was removed and replaced by a contemporary wood portico. The side entrance was for a separated class of people labeled as “colored”. With legislated segregation between blacks and whites in public places, Fort Smith was no different than the rest of the South. In addition to being segregated, blacks were provided with inferior accommodations and fewer amenities.

The building is closed to the public.