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

The Bastion That Never Was

Fort Smith National Historic Site

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

The Bastion That Never Was Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, July 13, 2012

1. The Bastion That Never Was Marker

Inscription. When army engineers originally designed the second Fort Smith in 1838, they planned for it to withstand attack. A key feature in achieving this goal was a stone wall about twelve feet high and from two to three feet thick. This wall surrounded the buildings of the second fort. At the five corners of the wall the army intended to construct bastions, two-story fortified firing positions for cannons. Construction on this bastion began in March of 1839; by 1842 the foundation of the structure was nine feet high and five feet thick.

Quartermaster General Thomas Jesup inspected Fort Smith in 1845 and ordered this fortification converted into a commissary depot. General Jesup’s intervention led to Fort Smith’s continued growth by shifting the mission of the post from defense to supply. With supply as its primary mission, Fort Smith became one of the largest and busiest posts in the southwest prior to the Civil War.

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

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Military. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1839.

Location. 35° 23.342′ N, 94° 25.792′ W. Marker is in Fort Smith, Arkansas, in Sebastian County. It is on Parker Avenue, on

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the left when traveling north. Located within Fort Smith National Historic Site National Park. 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 distance of this marker: Officer’s Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); The Parade Grounds (within shouting distance of this marker); Explorando Fort Smith / Exploring Fort Smith (within shouting distance of this marker); The Guardhouse, 1849-1871 (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Commissary (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Federal Building (within shouting distance of this marker); The Flagstaff (within shouting distance of this marker); The Women’s Jail, 1872-1888 (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 Bastion That Never Was Marker

Photographed by Denise Boose, July 13, 2012

3. The Bastion That Never Was Marker

The lower section of the walls show the reinforced nature of the bastions. Up to five feet thick, these wall sections were the only part of the defensive structure ever completed. The upper walls of the commissary were built on top of the existing bastion walls.

An Evolving Exterior image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, July 13, 2012

4. An Evolving Exterior

As the function of the commissary building changed over time, so too did the appearance of the building. Windows and doors were added and removed, and porches changed to provide access to the upper level of the building. National Park Service staff have used written records and archeological evidence to determine the arrangement of the porches and doorways at different times.

The Commissary image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, July 13, 2012

5. The Commissary

Photographed by Denise Boose, July 13, 2012

6. The Commissary

Credits. This page was last revised on June 12, 2020. It was originally submitted on August 14, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. This page has been viewed 943 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on August 14, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.