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Things to do in Fort Smith
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Fort Smith National Historic Site
The Fort Smith National Historic
Site is located at Fort Smith, Arkansas, beside the Arkansas
River and also on the other side of the river by Moffett,
Oklahoma, that was established in 1961, to preserve the remnants
of two 19th century military forts, plus a structure that was
used to contain a United States District Court for the western
district of Arkansas. Fort Smith was included in the stops made
by the Cherokee nation on its Trail of Tears; made a National
Historic Landmark in 1960. The welcome center is found in the
old barracks/jail/courthouse; with displays in the visitor
center highlighting the military history of the fort from 1817
until 1871. It also has many items that pertain to the federal
court's impact on the Indian territory, Judge Isaac Parker,
known as the "hanging judge", the western expansion, outlaws,
Indian removal that included the Trail of Tears, U.S. deputy
marshals and the Federal Indian policy. On the grounds are the
remains of the first Fort Smith that was built in 1817, and the
commissary building that was constructed in 1838; as well as the
gallows that were reconstructed that had been used by the
federal court. There is a memorable walking trail alongside the
Arkansas River. The site was added to the National
Register of Historic Places in 1966, and to the National
Historic Landmarks in 1960. Just a quick walk from the parking
lot, the remains of the first Fort Smith lies, that looks out
onto the confluence of the Arkansas and Poteau Rivers, that was
named Belle Point, which means beautiful place, by the French
fur trappers and traders that traveled along the river in the
18th century. The sight is really a beautiful one, with the deep
blue waters of the rivers, set up in the middle of the marvelous
green trees and grasses, all underneath a pale blue sky clouded
with white puffs every now and then. Just a bit further from the
parking lot, perhaps three quarters of a mile, a paved walking
trail begins going alongside the Arkansas River, past the fort,
and onto the sad Trail of Tears, where 5 southeastern Native
American tribes were taken from their homelands by force and
marched to Oklahoma, that included thousands of Cherokees,
Chickasaw, Choctaw, Seminole and Muscogee Creeks. There, sitting
out on an overlook, a memorial is located that tells of the
misfortune, torture, murder and other terrible fates that waited
for these poor Americans, as if death had come knocking on their
door. The oldest building that still stands in the old Fort
Smith locale is the commissary, that was built in 1838, which
eventually became a supply warehouse. In the days when the
federal court was being held here, the upper chambers of Judge
Isaac Parker were always busy; and the building continued to
supply troops even into the 1850s. On the parade grounds, where
the troops for the Mexican and Civil Wars trained, you might
hear the winds of war quietly blowing in your mind and if you
really listen, you can hear the drill sergeants counting out the
cadence. A cannon sits here, a lone sentinel of the beautiful
red, white and blue flag that continues to flow in the breezes,
with 37 stars set upon it, 100 feet in the air, that was seen
throughout the area even back then. The visitor center can
be found in the historic barracks building that was constructed
in 1851, then transformed into a courthouse and jail in 1872,
for the federal court of the western district of Arkansas. A
brand new jail was built next to the barracks in 1888. Visitors
can see all of these magnificent buildings in their tour that
included the restored courtroom of Judge Parker, and the "Hell
on the Border" jail, and some of the cells have been renovated
in the old jail so that you can see, smell and feel what it was
like back then, although it isn't as easy to do all these senses
when you know that you won't be leaving right away. There are
numerous exhibits and videos about the history of the military
here, and the rest of the aforementioned occurrences that are
part of its history.
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Fort Smith Trolley Museum
The Fort Smith Trolley
Museum is actually a railroad museum in Fort Smith, Arkansas;
but does have four streetcars that did run in Fort Smith, an
open streetcar and a Frisco steam locomotive. It runs the
heritage railroad that goes on excursions in the Fort Smith
National Historic Site that uses a Birney streetcar. Housed in
the building is the Fort Smith Streetcar Restoration Association
that has devoted itself to the preservation and appreciation of
electric powered streetcars, transportation and other technology
that was used during this period, and railroad equipment. The
association strives to give a unique and special educational
experience to those that come here to view and learn. The
Journal is a bi-annual publication of the Fort Smith Historical
Society, and in 1979, co-editor, Amelia Martin wanted to publish
an article about the history of the local public railway
transportation, and asked her husband if he would research it
and write the article. Although a busy doctor and community
leader, Dr. Art Bradley Martin, Sr. was soon deep into the
intrigue of trains, trolleys and buses. Much to his surprise and
delight, a local citizen named Charles Winters had finished the
research needed, and the society published his entire
manuscript. In September, 1979, the Journal volume 3, number 2
was published and later republished as a book. Right before the
publication was to come out, one of Doc Art's relatives called
to say he had read of an ad in an antique journal, selling a
Fort Smith streetcar, the Light & Traction #224. Soon an
organization was formed, the Fort Smith Streetcar Restoration
Association, that bought the old streetcar and more were later
added, creating a collection of antiquities that soon formed the
museum.
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Miss Laura's Social Club
Miss Laura's Social Club was
a house of prostitution located in Fort Smith, Arkansas, during
the turn of the 20th century. It now is the visitor's center on
First Street, reminding citizens and visitors of the town's
diverse history, and the only bordello that has ever been listed
on the National Register of Historic Places. Back in the days
when the United States and the Indian territory had a border
running across it, Fort Smith was one of those historical towns
that grew up in the old west. It was home to a military fort,
with large amounts of troops, that soon enticed prostitution to
venture into the town. It was during this era that many such
businesses were established around the country. The Riverfront
Commercial Hotel was built in 1896, and sold to one Laura
Ziegler in 1898, who had borrowed $3000 from the local bank to
purchase the building. She renovated it and opened it as a
brothel in 1903; and was able to repay the loan in 17 months.
The building was on what was called "the Row" in the town, which
had become an infamous red light district, and one of the most
celebrated brothels in the southwest, with her "ladies" known as
the most sophisticated and healthiest in the town. By 1910, the
town's folks wanted to rid their fair city of that district, and
two houses suspiciously burned down that year, with others
somehow damaged in January, when an oil storage tank exploded
and put these ladies and their customers out into the street. It
soon became called the night of the lingerie parade, and Laura
saw the writing on the wall and sold out to Bertha Gale Dean,
alias Big Bertha, in 1911 for $47,000; and Laura was never heard
of again. As the area went down, more drunks and drifters came
to the area, and it was soon a slum, although the house still
remained a brothel until Bertha passed on in 1948. She
bequeathed the house to Jules Bartholemy, who lived there and
was rumored to have been having a relationship with Bertha. Soon
it was abandoned, and in 1963, the town said that if a buyer
couldn't be located, then it would be torn down. Donald
Reynolds, founder of Donrey Media Group, purchased the building
and saved it from demolition. In 1973, it was selected for
inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places, and the
renovation started in 1983. Then a year later, the Miss Laura's
Social Club and Restaurant opened for business; although it
didn't last a long time and in 1992 opened as the town's
visitor/welcome center.
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