Fort Smith National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service, commemorates the 79 year history encompassing the first Fort Smith of 1817 to the Federal Court for the Western District of Arkansas ending in 1896.

1
Fort Smith National Historic Site, a unit of the
National Park Service, commemorates the 79 year
history encompassing the first Fort Smith of 1817
to the Federal Court for the Western District of
Arkansas ending in 1896.
2
Located in downtown Fort Smith, the National
Historic Site interprets the sites of two western
frontier military forts and the Federal Court for
the Western District of Arkansas.
3
The site of the first Fort Smith was named by
18th century French trappers. Belle Point means
beautiful place. It overlooks two rivers the
Arkansas and the Poteau.
4
Belle Point was an ideal location for trappers to
stop and make preparations for their journey down
the Arkansas River to the Mississippi River and
on to New Orleans.
5
President Jefferson completed the Louisiana
Purchase in 1803 and recommended the exchange of
all Indian lands east of the Mississippi River
for equal land to the West.
Jefferson thought this area was out of the way of
settlers moving west, but he, like many other
Americans, underestimated the speed of western
settlement.
6
Some of the Cherokee, feeling pressured to move,
came to what is today Arkansas in the early
1800s.
The first tribe to be encouraged to move was the
Cherokee, living primarily in Georgia, South
Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee. They were
the largest tribe and had been labeled as
civilized by the American people.
Cumnacatogue, also known as Cunne Shote, Stalking
Turkey or Standing Turkey.
7
They settled along the Arkansas River, an area
already claimed by the Osage. Isolated conflict
between the two tribes eventually led to war.
Tcha-to-ga, Mad Buffalo (Osage) George
Catlin, artist Smithsonian American Art Museum
8
The United States government was responsible for
creating this hostile situation between the Osage
and Cherokee. The government took action by
sending the Army to the area. A group of
soldiers from the U.S. Rifle Regiment arrived at
Belle Point on December 25, 1817.
9
The soldiers named the new fort in honor of
Thomas A. Smith, the commanding general of the
military district headquartered in St. Louis.
10
Within seven years Fort Smith was successful in
bringing peace between the Osage and Cherokee.
11
Fort Smith was abandoned in 1824 due to Indian
hostilities to the west and to the south. The
Army moved their troops to Fort Gibson and Fort
Towson.
12
From 1824 to 1836 population increased in the
Arkansas Territory and in 1836 Arkansas becomes
the 25th state. Almost immediately after
statehood the citizens of Arkansas began asking
the U.S. government officials to build another
fort at Fort Smith.
Arkansass first state capital in Little Rock
13
There was not a need for military protection in
westernArkansas, but citizens wanted a fort
because they knew they would benefit
economically if the army returned to Fort Smith.
Site of new fort
Old Military Road
Town of Fort Smith
Fort Smith c. 1842
Arkansas River
14
In 1838, in spite of opposition by some
government and army leaders, a new fort was
built.
15
In the 1830s, 40s, and 50s, as the nation
expanded, Fort Smith became an important
stopping point in westward movement.
16
Western expansion exacted a heavy price on Native
Americans. The forced relocation of the Five
Tribes Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Seminole
and Creek is called the Trail of Tears. Thousands
of Native Americans suffered and died on the
forced march to Indian Territory (present day
Oklahoma).
17
During the Civil War, Fort Smith was occupied by
both Confederate and Union troops. The fort was
still an active military post until 1871 when
the army abandoned the fort for the last time.
18
The building and grounds of the fort were not
vacant for long as the Federal Court for the
Western District of Arkansas moved to Fort Smith
in 1872. They used the former barracks as a
courthouse and jail.
19
The central figure of the Western District of the
Federal Court in Fort Smith is Isaac C. Parker.
He was appointed judge of this court by President
U.S. Grant in 1875.
20
Serving the Court were U.S. Deputy Marshals.
These men went into Indian Territory to find
people accused of crimes, as well as witnesses to
crimes, and bring them to Fort Smith for trial.
21
Those arrested were kept in jail in the basement
of the courthouse building. This jail became
infamous as it was dark, low-ceilinged, poorly
ventilated and with only the most primitive
sanitary facilities.
22
Judge Parkers courtroom was directly above the
jail. The courtroom today resembles its 1886
appearance.
23
Judge Parker stood for the law. For years, his
was the lone voice of justice heard on the
western frontier. Of the men who were sentenced
to death by Judge Parker 79 were executed on the
gallows.
24
I have ever had the single aim of justice in
view. No judge who is influenced by any other
consideration is fit for the bench. Do equal
justice has been my motto. Judge Isaac C. Parker
25
Today, visitors can see two buildings that remain
of the second Fort Smith the soldiers barracks
and the Commissary.
26
The commissary is the oldest building still
standing in Fort Smith.
27
The soldiers barracks today looks quite different
from when it was used by the army. The upstairs
rooms were sleeping quarters and the basement
was used for kitchen and dining areas.
28
There are a number of exhibits on park grounds
and in the visitor center that tell the story of
the Indian Removal.
29
A new jail was built in 1888 to replace the Hell
on the Border jail. It was larger and had 72
individual jail cells. Today visitors to the
jail can see parts of the cells that have been
rebuilt.
30
Today people from all over the country and world
come to Fort Smith National Historic Site to
learn more about 80 years of fascinating history.
31
For more information contact Fort Smith National
Historic Site at [phone] or visit the web
at www.nps.gov/fosm