Fort Smith in Sebastian County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)

The Guardhouse, 1849-1871

Fort Smith National Historic Site

— National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior —

The Guardhouse, 1849-1871 Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, July 13, 2012

1. The Guardhouse, 1849-1871 Marker

Inscription. The guardhouse, constructed in 1849, was a focal point of daily activity at the second Fort Smith. Not only did the men assigned to guard detail operate out of this building, but the officer of the day, who was responsible for the daily business of the post, worked out of an office located here. The guardhouse was also the place of confinement for soldiers under arrest for such offenses as drunkenness, desertion, or fighting.

The Guard Mount, or changing of the guard ceremony, occurred here once a day usually about 9:00 a.m. At the time, the old guard detail would be inspected and mustered out, and the new guard detail would be inspected and mustered in. Members of the guard detail served as sentries throughout the fort grounds, at each gate, and watched prisoners in the guardhouse.

Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Military. A significant historical year for this entry is 1849.

Location. 35° 23.342′ N, 94° 25.761′ W. Marker is in Fort Smith, Arkansas, in Sebastian County. It is on Park Avenue, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 301 Parker Avenue, Fort Smith AR 72901, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Arkansas River Valley,

in the Cherokee Heritage Region,

and in Osage Territory.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking

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distance of this marker: The Women’s Jail, 1872-1888 (a few steps from this marker); The Parade Grounds (a few steps from this marker); The Flagstaff (within shouting distance of this marker); Explorando Fort Smith / Exploring Fort Smith (within shouting distance of this marker); Deputy U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves (within shouting distance of this marker); The Bastion That Never Was (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Federal Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Bass Reeves - Lawman on the Western Frontier (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Smith.

Photographed by Denise Boose, July 13, 2012

2. The Guardhouse, 1849-1871 Marker

Photographed by Denise Boose, July 13, 2012

3. The Guardhouse, 1849-1871 Marker

Soldiers on guard detail remained in full uniform throughout their 24-hour tour of duty. This allowed them to be prepared to answer any emergency that arose, even during periods of rest.

Photographed by Denise Boose, July 13, 2012

4. The Guardhouse, 1849-1871 Marker

This photograph contains one of the few known images of the guardhouse (on the right). A visitor to the second for would have entered through the main gate (shown slightly to the left of the tree in the center of the photo) and the checked in at the guardhouse.

Photographed by Denise Boose, July 13, 2012

5. The Guardhouse, 1849-1871 Marker

Floor plan of the guardhouse, from 1849 construction drawings. In 2000, the National Park Service placed this concrete pad on the approximate location of the guardhouse. It matches the floor plan above.

Photographed by Denise Boose, July 13, 2012

6. The Guardhouse, 1849-1871 Marker

Photographed by Denise Boose, July 13, 2012

7. The Guardhouse, 1849-1871 Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 12, 2020. It was originally submitted on August 7, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. This page has been viewed 852 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on August 7, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.