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

Clues from the Past

Fort Smith National Historic Site

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

Clues from the Past Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, October 9, 2007

1. Clues from the Past Marker

Inscription. The building in front of you is very much as it appeared in the 1890s. First used as a military barracks, it was later converted for use as a courthouse and jail. Over time its appearance changed to accommodate the different needs of the people using it. Between 1851 and 1887, the structure was 1 ½ stories with large porches. The second story of the courthouse was added in 1891 for use as a hospital for the prisoners, and the long porches were removed and replaced with shorter ones.

Historical accounts note that the second Fort Smith (1838-1871) had three water wells. The only one that has been located is under the circular patch of grass in front of you. Sheltered by the small gazebo visible in the photo, this well supplied water throughout much of the building's history. After 1870, the well was replaced by other water sources such as cisterns and water pumped from the river. Look at the historic photographs and compare them to the building you see today. Notice clues of its former appearance by examining bricked in windows, remnants of porch foundations, changing roof lines, and brick color variations.

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

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles

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• Settlements & Settlers • Wars, US Indian. A significant historical year for this entry is 1851.

Location. 35° 23.298′ N, 94° 25.77′ W. Memorial is in Fort Smith, Arkansas, in Sebastian County. It is on Parker Avenue. The marker is in front of the Fort Smith National Historic Site Visitor Center and Museum. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 301 Parker Avenue, Fort Smith AR 72901, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial 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: Barracks, Courthouse, Jail (a few steps from this marker); Meeting of Nations (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Federal Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Second Fort Smith Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome to Fort Smith (within shouting distance of this marker); Confederates Occupy The Fort (within shouting distance of this marker); The Flagstaff (within shouting distance of this marker); Officer’s Garden (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Smith.

Clues from the Past Marker in front of the Courthouse and Museum image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, October 9, 2007

2. Clues from the Past Marker in front of the Courthouse and Museum

Inside the Museum image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, October 9, 2007

3. Inside the Museum

Photographed by Don Morfe, October 9, 2007

4. Inside the Museum

Photographed by Don Morfe, October 9, 2007

5. Inside the Museum

Photographed by Don Morfe, October 9, 2007

6. Inside the Museum

Photographed by Don Morfe, October 9, 2007

7. Inside the Museum

Sign at the entrance to the Fort Smith National Historic Site image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, October 9, 2007

8. Sign at the entrance to the Fort Smith National Historic Site

Credits. This page was last revised on March 18, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 11, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 657 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on April 11, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.