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 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. Marker 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.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking 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); 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); Frisco Train Depot (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
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.
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 603 times since then and 11 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.