Fort Smith in Sebastian County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)
Texas Corner in 1958
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 15, 2023
1. Texas Corner in 1958 Marker
Inscription.
Texas Corner in 1958. . In 1824, Congress directed that a military road would be constructed between Fort Smith in the Arkansas Territory and Fort Towson in Indian Territory, a distance of 190 miles. Captain B.L.E Bonneville, for whom Bonneville Dam and the Bonneville Salt Flats are named, began the exploration of this overland route at Texas Corner. This trail would be called Fort Towson Road, Texas Road, and in modern times Towson Avenue, Highway 71, Highway 45 and Highway 271. On this road wagons filled with settlers would help populate the future state of Texas, U.S. troops would march off to the Mexican War, forty-niners camped preparing to travel to the California gold fields followed later by the Butterfield Stage. In April 1861, a month before secession, Federal troops marched out of Fort Smith as Confederate soldiers approached.
In 1824, Congress directed that a military road would be constructed
between Fort Smith in the Arkansas Territory and Fort Towson in
Indian Territory, a distance of 190 miles. Captain B.L.E Bonneville, for
whom Bonneville Dam and the Bonneville Salt Flats are named, began
the exploration of this overland route at Texas Corner. This trail would
be called Fort Towson Road, Texas Road, and in modern times Towson
Avenue, Highway 71, Highway 45 and Highway 271. On this road
wagons filled with settlers would help populate the future state of
Texas, U.S. troops would march off to the Mexican War, forty-niners
camped preparing to travel to the California gold fields
followed later by the Butterfield Stage. In April 1861, a
month before secession, Federal troops marched out of Fort
Smith as Confederate soldiers approached.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Roads & Vehicles • War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1824.
Location. 35° 23.081′ N, 94° 25.272′ W. Marker is in Fort Smith, Arkansas, in Sebastian County. Marker is at the intersection of Garrison Avenue and Towson Road, on the right when traveling west on Garrison Avenue. Marker is in Cisterna Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1015 Garrison Ave, Fort Smith AR 72901, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are
Also see . . . Texas Corner (PDF). Originally a military road, it begins at what we now know as Texas Corner, the intersection of Garrison and Towson Avenues in downtown Fort Smith, and led south and west through Indian Territory to Texas. First called the Fort Towson Trail, it became better known as Texas Road because of its destination. (Amelia Martin, Fort Smith Historical Society's The Journal newsletter, April 1978; article begins on page 5) (Submitted on November 26, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 15, 2023
2. Texas Corner in 1958 Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on November 26, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 26, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 53 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on November 26, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
