Fort Smith National Historic Site Reviews

It was a very good presentation of the historic presentation of Fort Smith and its significance in the western expansion of the US frontier. The need for law and order in dealing with a lawless frontier was essential. It was a very nice complex with presentations. The walk of the grounds was beautiful. It is unfortunate that there are no remaining buildings like at other forts we have visited.

If you are in the Fort Smith area, this is a must visit downtown along the river. We walk our dog here quite often. Great also for a leisurely stroll stopping at the designated markers to read about
the history of Fort Smith.
The trees are beautiful with plenty of shaded benches for stopping for a break while you enjoy the view of the Arkansas river.

The original soldier barracks/prison/courtroom presided over by Judge Isaac Parker who brought justice to the "territory" in the late 19th century. It tells the story of the Indian nations that were so mistreated but fought criminals to preserve the integrity of their tribal lands. Also, the marshals that worked to bring in the wanted men who appeared before Judge Parker. Original buildings and a sense of what the fort looked like when in full operation...complete with commissary building. A pleasant self-guided tour with many markers with historical text.

Recently 20yr and 10yr old daughters went to the museum together. My oldest needed to do a report for school and I thought the younger would like in too. After 30 mins of eyerolls and “no you can’t take your phone for games” we went. Seriously had to drag her out of the car but then in 2 seconds she changed! She saw a film crew taping and they were dressed in 1800’s cloths. Her interest was peaked! I said if you like this Allee wait till you get inside because it is full of history and they have real items from that time. This almost brought her back to the eyerolls so I backed off and let her just experience it all on her own. Once we got in she wasn’t available to speak to again, because she was so mesmerized by everything she saw. She’d ask questions and when I’d tell her the answer she’d soak it up. So we saw everything and spent almost the entire day there. It was wonderful to watch her be fed by everything at the museum. After we had seen it all and even went back a couple times to her favorite areas we were leaving and had gotten to the car. I said here’s your phone Allee I hope that wasn’t to boring for you without your phone. She took the phone and then said and did something that almost made me faint!!!!! She took her phone and just put it in her pocket without checking her text, emails, Facebook, or if anyone had called, then looked me straight in the face, eye to eye and said with passion and sincerity, I quote, “DAD THAT WAS NOT BORING AND I WANT TO COME BACK TOMORROW WITH MY FRIEND KATIE”!!!!! I don’t know about you but when my child doesn’t want to look at her phone and is now defending museum from being saidnitnwas boring to then taking it further and wanting to bring her friends to experience our history, well it was one of those life moments I’ll never forget. What’s crazy is she has had a hunger for wanting to learn more about Arkansas history and American history. It just takes a little sometimes to let a child see a passion for things she didn’t even know she had... this is how I believe history teachers are born. So I would highly encourage to take your children and let them see, smell and touch Arkansas history and maybe make a future history buff.

Nice clean park, very informative staff. Grounds are well keep. Took a teenager who appreciated all the history.

This is a well-run National Park Service site. We thoroughly enjoyed going through the museum, walking around the grounds, and walking near the river. The ground floor of the museum contains the actual prison used in the 1880s, and the second floor contains a reproduction of the courtroom from the 1880s. The exhibits tell the history of the fort over different eras of use and tell stories of specific individuals involved. Highly recommend also visiting the National Cemetery nearby.

Historic place with many outside things to visit.
Visitor center NPS, very polite and helpful.
Worth it

We had a couple of hours to kill, and were recommended to visit here, and we are So glad that we did. To hear about the history of the area was really enlightening, made all the better by listening and talking to Marty whose knowledge and passion for the history shone through. After looking around the museum we took a beautiful stroll down by the river to stand at the 'Trail of Tears Outlook'. Would highly recommend a visit here.

Where else are you able to see a real Gallows! Fort Smith NHS has done an amazing job to preserve the history of the Federal court during the Territorial days of the Trail of Tears

Lots of detailed information, good selection of artifacts. Workers are knowledgeable. There is plenty to see here, mostly inside and also some outside.

We spent a good hour walking round the site and enjoyed both the history and the views. Not worth a long detour, but definitely a visit if you are in/close to Ford Smith. The historical explanations brought the site to life.

My husband and I spent two days in Ft. Smith, Arkansas while roadtripping back to Ohio from California. While looking on TripAdvisor for things to see I noticed the Trail of Tears at Ft. Smith national park. As I have a video of the Trail of Tears, I was very much interested in seeing firsthand this period of our country's history. Since we had an annual National Parks Service membership, we didn't have to pay to visit the museum, thus saving us $14 (more money for souvenirs!) The park rangers were friendly and knowledgeable. The initial informational video we saw at the park regarding the Trail of Tears was whitewashed in its interpretation of the mistreatment and deception of and to Native nations and tribes by the U.S. government; however, the static displays within the museum and signage along the park trail were more historically accurate and well maintained. A must place to see.

Interesting history of Ft Smith. Antique cars and many other artifacts of the area. Try the radio controls and turn tables.

I was stationed at Ft. Chaffee in the fifties but never went to the historic site. Although I have read several books on the site, my first visit was returnind from Arizona about a year ago. It was an interesting visit and worth anyone's time to discover the last law West of the Mississippi.

Worth an hour or two at most,not much of fort left,museum in old courthouse and mock up of courtroom,film about history of fort,commissary fitted out as it would have been,and a reconstruction of the gallows.

Found this museum to be interesting and informative. We browsed the outbuildings and a replica of the gallows (just inside the gate, there is a recorded story about a hanging). In the main building, a friendly park ranger gave us an overview of Fort Smith and invited us to enjoy the museum. Downstairs are exhibits, jail cells and a gift shop. Upstairs, there are many exhibits about outlaws, as well as the courtroom of Judge Parker, the "Hanging Judge" (who actually opposed capital punishment but was required by law to pass that sentence for certain crime convictions).

Very interesting site. Nice trail that takes you along the river and the old buildings. Walking is free but there is a fee to see the museum. Worth a visit.

Great trip, boys 9 and 6 loved the jail and gallows. The gunfight reenactment across the street was awsome.

Did not know what to expect on our visit here. Stopped with my family on our way to Arizona. The rangers were great and especially took an interest in my visually impaired son since they were developing some new Braille content. The jail exhibits were a hit with my family and they also enjoyed learning about the court room. What we intended to be a quick stop to get out of the car ended up being an enjoyable visit of over an hour. This site appears to have been renovated recently and was very nice.

It was historically interesting to see the gallows and the architecture of the old buildings. This would be a good stop for people with pets too. I believe this listing is for the park area around the historical museum so the park is free and there are a lot of grassy areas. Lots of parking.

We started out with a short video, explaining the history of the fort. It was originally built to prevent warring between early Native american Nations who have settled in the area. As time progressed, it later became a regional Federal court and a person of motoriety was (Hanging) Judge Parker. It was also occupied by both Union and Confederate Armies during the Civil War. The basement area was used as a jail holding as many as 200 prisoners awaiting further action. It was a very informative stop and well worth the time.

We planned our spring break to include several national historic sites and Fort Smith was the first this year. My daughter does the juniors ranger programs and we all learn a lot from the experience. We arrived just before a large storm was to hit so we asked the rangers what outdoor sites to see before the rain. (The gallows and the commissary). We got inside the main building with minutes to spare. The introductory film was very informative and the exhibits gave us a real feel for the history of the site. Would highly recommend spending an hour or two there.

We learned a lot about the history of Fort Smith, from the settlers to the Trail of Tears and the Civil War, to scoundrels and bandits. Most moving is the old basement jail; we could hardly picture it with a hundred men of all different crimes packed together. Judge Parker was a man ahead of his time, and the museum does a good job of explaining his career. Watch the orientation film first. This, and the history museum nearby, are both well worth a stop.

Excellent place to take a relaxing walk while learning more about our beautiful Fort Smith City! Our Leadership of Fort Smith Class 2016 visited the museum and took the tour of our entire historical area.

Enjoyed it! There isn't a whole lot to see in Fort Smith, but that does not mean there isn't a lot of history!

Great for self guided tour, lots of informative plaques. Nice network of walking paths, great river views, places to sit and relax, lots to learn about the fort. Park service staff were very friendly and helpful.,

This site is in our hometown. We've been there many times, taking visiting family and friends to learn about the genesis of our city.

So many people groups and figures are represented there!

We strongly recommend going for yourselves and the grounds and view of the rivers coming together is so nice in the different seasons of the year as well.

You can spend two hours there learning about Fort Smith / Arkansas history. Useful information with explanatory signs. Good for teenagers as well.

Personally I don’t think you can ever go wrong spending time at historical sites. This one is definitely worth a visit. When we entered the Visitor’s Center, we were immediately welcomed by the Park Ranger. He explained the park layout to us, the museum and the introductory film. I would highly recommend that you watch the film as it is both interesting and informative. The museum is really well done. There is a lot of reading, but it is interesting and worth your time. When we finished touring the museum (and the gift shop), we went out to walk the grounds. There is a paved walking path that makes the grounds easily accessible. It is a beautiful setting and the grounds are well maintained. They have done a really good job of placing information boards around the grounds to help you understand the significance of the area. All of the information that you learn here really helps you to understand how important Ft. Smith was and the role it played in our history.

My wife and I stopped here on the way out of Arkansas, after visiting Mount Magazine State Park. This is a very compact park, which was good for us since we didn't have a lot of time to visit. The visitor center is very nice and clean and full of informative displays. It was a cool but clear day when we visited so it was nice as well to walk around outside and view the few remaining structures of the old fort. The Fort Smith Museum of history is conveniently located across the street. Lots of shops and restaurants nearby.

There is not too much to see on the actual site but it is well laid out with many information boards dotted all over the site. There is a large museum next to the site but is was closed by the time that we arrived in town. It worth a visit if you are in the area but it is probably not worth going out of your way to go there.

Easy to navigate. Great displays. Park rangers knowledgeable. Sad that walls were gone, but liked how the perimeter was marked. Orientation video good place to start.

Nice exhibit of history with a short movie overview of what happened there. Beautiful overlook of the river. Emphasis in the fort there to keep the peace amongst the different Indian times in the area.

Such a great place to visit. The grounds were very nice. Even though it was hot (July '21), it wasn't horrible. There was a breeze, plenty of tree cover and benches here and there. Not everything was open due to covid and some water damage from a previous storm thus I can't rate it a 5. Parking was ample. Lots of things to read along the paved walk ways. So much history here if you can transport your mind back to the days of this Fort. The Commissary was open for a walk through. The Gallows and reading what happened there was cool too.

We visited the Fort Smith National Historic Site expecting to make a short stop and learn about the fort as an outpost for the Western Expansion. Instead, we spent a majority of the day here learning about the many and varied facets of its history including the Civil War, Trail of Tears, Federal Court and U.S. Marshals. A worthwhile stop -- especially for history buffs.

Not much to really look at since the fort is mostly gone. There are some really nice trails with great overlooks of the river. Also, the signs along the paths are nice to stop and read. The visitor center has a charge to tour (which wasn't really worth it for me) but the grounds are free and were my favorite part anyway.

This place has quite a bit of history to tell. It was a very lawless place and there were many difficult times for so many people in the area.

Not really that impressive, but if you are in the area is a good stop. Helpful visitor center and the short documentary is informative

We had an enjoyable visit to the Historic Courthouse and Jail. It was fun learning about this famous location and comparing it to the scenes in the movie True Grit.

Perfect place to take visiting family. Good for children and adults. Very educational and beautiful scenery. Great walking area.

This is a wonderful place to visit in Fort Smith! The riverfront is absolutely beautiful year round.

This was about the third time we have visited here but rest assured it is always interesting. I somehow get an eerie feeling because I can feel so much history in this place!

this was a great place to see , i learned alot but we got there right before they closed so we did not get to spend alot of time there

Fort Smith National Historic Site is a rare gem worth the time to explore. The site tells of the Wild West Days of America on the border to the Indian Territory. It tells of the "Hanging Judge Parker." History was brought alive for my family by two highly knowledgeable and conscientious Park Rangers - Ranger Faber and Ranger Burns. They made this a truly memorable trip with their tour through the park. This is a must see site!

We had a great day at National Historic Site. Doesn’t matter if you are visiting Fort Smith for the first time or if you are local, you always will have a beautiful view.
There are a lot of history information in the way of a sidewalk. I just think they could have some benches along off the way.
It is a great place for a walk!

Great conscience! On our visits to NPS sites we have been trying to see flag raising in the morning...This morning at Fort Smith we were walking up to flagpole at exact time as "Cody" the Ranger that was going to raise the flag. He greated us with a welcoming good morning and ask if we'd like to help raise the flag. Then asks if we wanted to walk to raise another and rounds to open the fort. The entire walk he told history and points of interest. 100% Great Job, welcoming and knowledgeable.

Our tour of the restored Fort Smith site, jail, and Judge Parker Courtroom was great. We all vaguely knew who "hanging judge" Parker was going in, but know a lot more about the man and his time at Fort Smith now after an excellent docent tour of the facility.

I enjoy battlefield and military historic sites. Went there 3 years ago, the only thing they liked about it was the gallows. 🤔😔

Stopped in for a couple of hours and found the place almost to ourselves. Definitely need to be able to move about and read to make the most of this exhibit. It's very well constructed and does a remarkable job of transporting to the frontier days.

The main museum building was closed due to storm damage. A ranger stationed outside in a tent was helpful, though. We toured the gallows (part of the historic site recounts the famous "hanging judge" of the area) and listened to the audio presentation about it. We also walked to the river, which was nice but the signs were only somewhat informative. Worth a stop if you are in the area. Perhaps my review would have been better if we had seen the museum.

What a great historical site! We took the tour inside the main building before exploring the grounds. Marty was our guide and did an amazing job! He was amazingly knowledgeable of the history of not only Fort Smith but also the surrounding area. He told us some great stories, including some ghost stories! We came away really feeling that we had experienced the history of Fort Smith. We also walked along the path to see the original ruins of Fort Smith and the Trail of Tears as well as the gallows. A must see when in Fort Smith!

Online it said everything there was open. Drove over 8 hours to find out it was closed. Saw what we could see outside which wasn’t much. Definitely would not return nor recommend. Also Ozark Mountains in some areas is just ok other areas it isn’t worth the drive. Really a complete waste of time going to AR. I think it’s one of those areas that’s just there to hold the earth together.

Being a history buff, I always try to go to any state or national park related to history. In a previous job, I traveled the USA a great deal and got to visit many. This site is very well done. I first attended the site in 1991 and it was not staffed well. It was free or at least I didn't even see any employee. I wondered around and the exhibits were nice and I can read so i didn't need someone to tell me. I enjoyed it.

I took a friend and her 4 kids there in 2000 and they all loved it. The young boys REALLY loved the gallows outside. That was "Super Awesome".

I came back when I moved into town years ago and they had done a multimillion dollar rework of the place. There are now park attendants. It is no longer free but only cost a few dollars. I guess that is to help pay for the staff. I wonderful improvement.

I now bring all friends and family over there to show them part of national and state history.

I feel like I know the history of fort Smith backwards and forwards. The history is very simple, but very interesting! Judge Parker seems like a formidable man to face if you were an outlaw. Learn about him at the visitor center, once the courthouse and jail, see the gallows, walk the area where the original Fort was, keeping peace in Indian territory. The national Park service, like always provides an informational yet interesting tour of an important feature of American history. If you have a couple of hours, this is a nice place to visit!

Another national park checked off my list. Fort Smith is an interesting look into life back in the 1800's. The film in the visitor center is only around 13 minutes long but is packed with information. A visit to the gallows is also recommended. Lots of history all over the site.

Great take. Interesting history of the area from someone who enjoys history yet knew nothing of this site's importance in western US history during and after the Civil War.

We came to Fort Smith to go to the Marshals Museum that was a big disappointment. This was our second pick but really could have been our only pick. You could spend a whole day here if you wanted to. Lot of outdoor spaces and spots for a picnic. The Museum is small and older but is a lot better than the US marshal museum. Our whole group loved this experience and was so glad we came here.

Disappointed that the visiting center was closed! I do understand why so all is forgiven! 😊It had originally relocated items as well as its mostly outside! Great thing to go if your family is living Covid Safe.

Stopped here as a way to break the day traveling across country and were surprised and intrigued by what we found. You just don’t hear much about law enforcement in Indian Territory in the decades between the Trail of Tears and the Oklahoma Land Rush. Yet, as the exhibits here demonstrate, it was a risky, ruthless business performed by Deputy U.S. Marshalls overseen by a Federal Judge in Ft. Smith. To the extent you hear about this era and these activities, it usually has to do with Judge Parker’s reputation as the “Hanging Judge”, a reputation that the exhibits make clear that does a disservice to his overall administration of the law.

Not the easiest place to find and once you get there, there are no signs to show you how to navigate the narrow streets around the Park to the parking lot. Took a fair a amount of guess work driving through a somewhat sketchy neighborhood to find it. Overall, however, worth the effort and we left appreciating the efforts of a small group of unsung lawmen of the Old West.

Check out Judge Parker's Court. Very informative and a great place to take Kids. Plus the evening Courts they have are so much fun.

One of the hidden gems of the National Park Service, the old courthouse has been renovated into a very interesting exhibit museum. There are lots of photos, memorabilia, and stories to view. The courtroom is on display, as well as the basement area holding area for prisoners. Outside the courthouse are barracks, replica wagons, and the infamous Judge Parker gallows.

We enjoyed the history of Fort Smith. More time would have been useful to explore the Trail of Tears and Indian territory on the other side of the Arkansas state line.

The visitors center video and ranger guided tour were very worth while. We learned a lot about Oklahoma prior to state hood (lawlessness), and the forced movement of the American Indian tribes from the Eastern U.S. (trail of tears) to Oklahoma.

A must visit in Fort Smith. Downtown Fort Smith is rich with history and this is the place to start.

The is a very nice place to visit and full of history. I couldn’t get over the fact that people were on the end of the frontier at this spot a few hundred years ago. Amazing amount of history here. If you have time stop by and take a walk by the river for a few minutes. You will be glad you did.

A very nice park with free parking and access with the exception of the museum in the commissary. It is within walking distance of a top restaurant.

There are some homeless folks that hang out in the pavilion in the park.

Met ranger Reed. Very friendly, and informative. Learned about the Indian nations, Trail of Tears and the hanging judge Parker.

We were disappointed that the original courthouse, barracks and visitors center were closed..I am sure that would have made for a better experience. The one interesting site to see was the gallows where several people were hung. The day was very hot and humid, and the mosquitoes attacked. The locals said this is normal and to make sure you put on bug spray or the mosquitoes will drive you nuts. Overall was disappointed.

We live a few hours away and found this site worthy of the drive to visit. We left with a much deeper understanding of the important role Fort Smith played in the shaping of our nation. We forgot our America the Beautiful pass at home so we had to pay $10 each to tour the visitor center. It was worth the price. We were especially moved by the room that houses the prisoners and Judge Parker’s courtroom.

I really thought my time was well spent here. You learn a lot of great history about the town and what happened here many years ago. Great place to visit in Fort Smith.

Being here in November was simply amazing. Beautiful leaves. Overall a very interesting site. Plenty of well-kept walk paths with great information and pictures. The Trail of Tears overlook has a gorgeous river view. Staff was very helpful. I would like to go again with more time to explore.

Outside display is free and describes the history of the fort through the 19th century. Go down the path by the river to see the sight of the first wooden fort and the Trail of Tears memorial. The trail goes all the way to the pavilion and then joins up with the old bordello that is now a visitor's center (a good place to start a tour of downtown Fort Smith). Walk just a couple blocks south of the fort and the trolley ride is a great experience as well.

The site was well worth the walking tour. The original fort down by the river had a beautiful walking trail to follow! The visitors center has exhibits/artifacts on display that bring history to life! From the gallows to the store house, you will not be disappointed!

Nothing special about this place. Only 1 main building still standing. Exhibits were good and the introductory film was informative. If you are in town visit, but not worth a special trip

Owing to the visitor center being closed, our visit was limited to trolling the grounds and what remains of the buildings and foundations of the earliest and then mid-19th century forts. Thanks to the informational placards scattered about the grounds, we were still able to get a good sense of the fort and it's purposes. The gallows were particularly interesting. On the day we visited there was a group of re-enactors prepping for a demo later that day and they were amply willing to share their knowledge of the forts history as well - thanks, boys!

Excellent place to roam around. Take the kids and they could learn something too. A lot of history here to excite the imagination.

Having spent the night in Ft. Smith, we almost left the next morning without seeing anything but took a flyer on this historic sight. We didn't do the museum (left our National Parks pass at home) but walked the entire grounds of the old and new Fort Smith and the Trial of Tears walk along the Arkansas River. A good walk is good, but one steeped in historical context is best! There are story boards for each of the 5 CivilizedTribes. A truly dark time in our history without notable reconciliation.

We enjoyed walking the grounds of this historic site and reading the information on the markers. We didn't tour the museum since we didn't bring any money and didn't realize it would cost $7 per person. Regardless, we learned a lot. A little disappointed that none of the original buildings remain standing. Some have been recreated however. Beautiful views of the Arkansas River from the site too if you walk to the overlook areas.

$14 for 2 adults. Justice in the West. There's several restored buildings. The main one is the jail/barracks. The basement has the "hell on Earth" jail. Upstairs is the new & improved jail. Judge Parker's courtroom. A large display of the Trail Of Tears.
The commissary building, which we missed. The visitor center has a gift shop & a film that's worth watching. The grounds are beautiful. A trail takes you to the old Fort Smith & the Trail Of Tears overlook. It also takes you by the Arkansas River, which is nice. Parking is generous.
There's also a gallows! A reconstruction, but it still gives me the shivers.
This is one of the nicest forts we've been to.

If you like history, just go. Fort Smith is fascinating and well-kept. Signage, both indoors and out, is great, so you always know what you're looking at. Be sure to walk the trail for some fantastic views of the river too, and don't miss seeing the gallows!

Extremely hot and humid in Fort Smith during July. It was difficult to enjoy the exterior sites even with getting out early in the morning. Museum was nice and a relief from the heat. The rangers were friendly.

Hardly anything to see here. What was open ( commissary) was pretty lame. The original courthouse where Judge Parker presided was closed due to COVID restrictions which I am getting tired of hearing. There was a ranger in the building who opened the door and spoke with us. He was very informative and nice but couldn’t open the door for us to see anything. It was too long of a drive to not be able to see anything. The gallows are a recreation taken from a Kodak picture from an actual hanging. There is a .7 mile concrete path that is replete with markers that share the story of the original fort which is no longer standing. Other than that there is not much else to see.

Little video to watch explaining area. Courtroom was neat, nice walking outside towards the river. Small gift area to purchase items. $7.00 for admission.

We enjoyed seeing and reading the history of Fort Smith. It really is the history of so many movies made about the Wild West's marshals, bounty hunters, and the Indians of the area. The museum located in the courthouse and jail is full of artifacts. Lots of firearms which my husband loves. A bonus is that our National Parks Senior card got us in for free!

The displays are very interesting. One can imagine just how uncomfortable a 3 x 6 foot cell would be for two criminals...very tight quarters, miserably hot, & no windows. The gallows are replicas of those used to carry out the sentences of Judge Issac C. Parker after being prosecuted by William H. H. Clayton, US Prosecuting Attorney. It really was "hell on the border" back then & a great part of the Wild West.

Fantastic job of preserving the site of the original "fort smith" and courtroom, jail and other buildings and memorabilia from the days when this was the last outpost that kept the law for the western frontier of the US.

One of the smaller National Parks that we have visited but well worth the trip. We had a volunteer guide ask if we would like a private tour of the historic courthouse and we said yes! The guide was full of wonderful stories and tall tales of the past. If you look at the wall of US Marshals you will notice one missing, Rooster Cogburn. Ha! He was a fictional character in True Grit. Trust me, I asked too like many others have before!

Building and grounds to see and nice walks on paved trails along the river are worth the trip. Stay for a couple hours at this edge of Arkansas park, then walk downtown.

The visitor’s center is where to start. It is a National park, so passes are accepted. Kids under 17, i think that is right, are free. Adults are $10 each. The guide through the visitor center museum was full of interesting information. The museum is on your own after the guide gives you information about the times. The jail is interesting. I haven’t seen one like that before. After the museum, we walked the grounds seeing the other buildings and old fort remains. I would say the visit is worth it. The Trail of Tears display at the river was washed away in the recent floods. That is unfortunate, but it happened. We also had a good picnic in the park there.

We stopped at Fort Smith on our way driving through the area and spent about 45 minutes there. Unfortunately the Visitor Center and everything inside was closed due to Covid, although we were able to get National Park passport stamps from a ranger stationed outdoors.

There are a couple historical buildings still present on the site, and a gallows that has been reconstructed. The park information map gave us some information, as well as several plaques set around the site. We enjoyed walking around on the paths of the site, especially down next to the river. We wish we could have learned more by visiting the museum and visitor center, but it was still a nice chance to stop during our drive and stretch our legs.

This was a stopping point on our way to Branson, MO, but we took the time to visit the Historic site and found it to be very interesting.

We were looking for the "overlook area" and were never certain where it was.

The attendant was very friendly and helpful.

Old buildings, gallows, Trail of Tears, so worth learning about and exploring. Nice paved paths and many signs ( some with audio) explaining the area.Dog friendly excussion.

Bring your tennis shoes and a picnic; this is a good walk if you see everything. Historic downtown Fort Smith takes you back in time. This beautiful park has a great walking path which directs you to specific historic markers with explanations for each. It is a great way to get outside and take in some of the U.S. old west history. Fort Smith is a mecca of history; from the Old Fort to the historical buildings, the museum and trolley - there is something for everybody. Enjoy!

If you have time to walk around the historical site it's worth it. Kind of a walking tour. You can pay $7 to visit inside but I did not. Great view of the river.

Unfortunately the visitors center is closed due to COVID. But the grounds are open. We also were able to get some info from a Park Service volunteer that was there to make sure visitors were welcomed.

Watch out for the ginormous squirrels. They eat very well from the acorns on the grounds.

Our family loved this place. The weather was perfect so we were able to walk the trails and read all of the information boards. The visitor center was awesome!

As many others have written, this is a must stop if you value US history. The grounds are lovely (although the river smelled a little funky!) and the buildings and displays are top notch. If you are of a certain age and appreciate Westerns (Hang em high, Rooster Cogburn & True Grit) it will especially resonate with you. I watched the park movie, toured the main barracks/courthouse, the reconstructed gallows and the commissary along with the rest of the grounds. Overall I spent about 90 minutes and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Fort Smith National Park is the gem of Fort Smith. A detailed history and relics of America's Western Frontier is a marvel. The museum details Fort Smith's history including a movie. Inside the museum the aura of the jail and the gallows outside doesn't appeal to everyone, but the River Trail surely will. Along the trail you can survey the site of the original fort.

The grounds are good & well maintained. Informative and candid displays from the native American standpoint.
The gift store unfortunately didn't have much variety atleast as per our taste.

Thoroughly enjoyed walking the grounds and touring the buildings. Easy walk nice views of the river.

Very close and within walking distance of the Historical museum. Large beautiful courthouse but was under construction and not open to the public in September. An old prison wagon on the lawn and actual gallows that Judge Parker used in the day for his hangings. Nice walk around park! Worth seeing. Free to.

We thoroughly enjoyed visiting here. Everything is set up very well. The film is worth viewing so as to get a good overview of the local history.

A very important part of history restored to its former partial self. The museum, movie and park was excellent in its self guided tour. The grounds are well kept and easily marked for self tours. The museum is well documented and easy to tour.

If you enjoy history, this is a nice place to visit. Make sure to watch the video. It explains so much about the fort, it's history and Judge Parker - The Hanging Judge. The gallows give a different view of our judicial system and the Black Histury exhibit is very informative.

Worth a stop if you are in the area. Very helpful staff. Interesting history and nice facilities. Highly recommended for Old West history buffs.

Everyone in our family enjoyed our visit to Fort Smith National Historic Site. We almost missed it in our travels, we're so glad we stopped in!
The grounds are beautiful in Spring and as northerners we needed some warmth and beauty!
The visitors center is clean and welcoming. The employees were friendly and helpful. The video is a don't miss, especially if you come in not knowing much about Fort Smith, which was our situation.
The museum exhibits were interesting and informative and the gift shop was well stocked with lots of interesting books and souvenir items.
We also enjoyed the short trail down to the river - so beautiful!
Don't drive by if you're in the area and have an hour or two to spare!

We went into Ft. Smith thinking we were look for antiques and lunch and ended up spending an afternoon - first was the free trolley ride. Next was a visit to the National Park site and Museum. So fascinating. The volunteers and park staff are so helpful and it is a great history lesson about the "west" - well worth the time.

We really enjoyed this stop. We checked out the video, toured both floors of the visitor center and then headed outside to walk the grounds. I liked that this NPS site has unique exhibits including a lot of hands on-type activities in the museum and commissary building. Ranger Robert was very helpful and interesting to speak with.

This historic site depicts the stories of frontier life in the 1800's during the "Trail of Tears" and of the capturing of dishonorable people, mostly men, who were brought back to Ft. Smith from the frontier to go to court. Besides the gallows where they were hung, there are walking paths on the grounds, plus a building housing artifacts, a walk-in of the old prison, story boards, and a movie room where people can sit down. The National Historic Park greeter at the entry desk will answer questions very well. I need to know history because it helps understand events in current time.

It was a blistering hot/humid day, but the rangers were so very friendly & helpful & the signage was excellent. Great historic museum & well worth a visit. Would have stayed longer if it wasn't so hot & humid. The river walk was pleasant.

This site was founded in 1817. 200 years old! the original foundation of the wood fort can still be seen. The gallows still exists and the courthouse/jail are in incredible condition. The courthouse has been converted into an additional cost museum ($7) and is also the visitor center.

The site itself is a little hard to find. When I asked the rangers about this, they explained it's the cities responsibility to post road signs etc. If you see the state of Fort Smith, AR, you can see why the city hasn't spent the money on this.

The location is very nice. Huge old trees right on the Arkansas River. A few other buildings exist including the garden.

Fort Smith riverfront is beautiful along with the park. Historic, beautiful it's good to be in Fort Smith, Arkansas

The historic site was nice with lots of good information and a few artifacts, diaramas, and a 15 minute overview movie. Typical of the NPS. You get a good history lesson.

What made this special and deserving of 5 star rating was 'Marty'. He is a volunteer who gives an hour long plus tour. He was funny and told lots of good stories to make the place come alive and not just some boring facts and figures. My family loved his tour. He kept us all entertained and we ranged from ages 15 to 70.

Really enjoyed our visit there, complete with outfitted tour guide. Allow 1-2 hours if walking the trail (which also leads to Miss Laura’s - allow 45 min or so for there!)

We almost didn’t go here because we had read that the visitor center was closed. But thanks to Ranger Ashley and volunteer Marcus, our visit was most educational and interesting. What a unique place with a diverse history.

There is a walking trail along the river. It can be very peaceful. You can take and walk your pets. There are historic signs to read about how the Fort came to be.

The 1803 Louisiana Purchased launched Fort Smith's history. The first Ft. Smith was built in 1817 to keep peace in the Arkansas River Valley between the native Osage and newly arriving Cherokee. The second Ft. Smith was built due to an unfounded fear of Indian attack, but the US-Mexican War, 1849 CA gold rush, surging westward migration and forts built farther west made it an important supply depot.

The location became the Federal Court for the Western District of Arkansas in 1872. Over the next 24 years, hundreds of US Deputy Marshalls rode out from the court into Indian Territory to maintain law & order. Judge Isaac C Parker was known as the "hanging judge". He heard over 13,000 cases - 344 for capital crimes. Although 160 were sentenced to death, only 79 faced the gallows. See the photo below.

The site itself is free but if you want to view the exhibits on the 2nd floor and inside the barracks bldg, it costs $6/pp. The exhibits were very good and definitely worth the money. There was so much to see and well explained. The outdoor exhibits and bldgs had good placards explaining the purpose of these bldgs. The site is near the Arkansas River and we had a nice picnic lunch nearby. Definitely worth a visit.

We went to the Fort Smith visitor center first, it is an old brothel that has been restored beautifully. We got a free private tour of the history and the house that was one of the best I have ever taken, about 30 minutes, informative, funny. Maybe that is why the National Historic sight seemed a let down. The 15 minute movies is good, but no enthusiastic people sharing stories, we got more about Judge Parker and the gallows from the visitor center. Loads of big boards with writing, I read fast and it bored me, can not imagine if you were a kid. $7 for the movie essentially, because you can walk around and see the rest of it for free. There is not really a fort here anymore.

Stopped by here on the way out of town. Couldn’t go in because of the corona virus but absolutely amazing. It was very peaceful maybe because it wasn’t full of tourists but you could feel the history. The city has done an excellent job taking care of this

Great open spaces with many things to see relating back in our history
The person working gave several other sites to visit along our journey
Worth the stop

Like most national park sites Fort Smith does a nice job of explaining the history of the area - but what sets it apart is that history. It is not a one hit wonder. There are exhibits telling about the fort's role in Native American clashes (among tribes not, as expected, whites and tribes), as a supply hub for the area and California gold rush, the important judicial role the town and marshals played, and a bit about the Civil War. A tremendous diversity of information. Whoever designed the exhibits showed a bit of creativity as well, not just relying on signboards and posted information, with clever staging and graphics helping. Restoration is beyond what is expected, and the grounds and buildings are extremely clean. Outdoor trails are scenic and marked with additional information.

Fort Smith National Historic Site is a National Park property that tells the story of the beginnings of the western movement in our country. Specifically it tells of the relocation of American Indian Tribes, to make way for the westward push of the early white settlers. They have a nice 15 minute video that is very informative. This is real history, not revised! A must see for western frontier buffs. The Trail of Tears passed through Fort Smith, and the beautiful grounds of this site mask the hardships endured by the Native Americans. A secondary story tells of the Wild West atmosphere that filled the gap as the Indians were pushed west. Hanging Judge Parker, and a gallows, are part of this story. Allow plenty of time and enjoy.

This historic site has it all. There is an introductory movie, interactive exhibits, very engaging displays and descriptions, etc., etc. This is a highly informative and effective telling of the history of the area, building and peoples of Arkansas. Thank you National Park Service for an excellent and informative experience.

We stopped at Fort Smith as a diversion from our road trip, and I'm glad we did. Both my husband and I love historical sites, and this one did not disappoint. There is so much historical information and a volunteer who told us exciting stories about the fort and its history. That was the first gallows I've ever seen, and you could see it up close. It was used to hang 86 men and 5 women. We also saw the living and sleeping quarters of the prisoners and heard about 13 minute trials and attempted escapes.

Interesting self guided tour. Lots of historical information regarding the grounds and the settling of the Indian Territory. Beautiful views.

This national historic site offers a meaningful and sobering walk through history. The grounds are well maintained and felt safe for a solo female traveler. A clearly marked path guides you through the area, with informational signs at key points that help bring the site’s past to life. Inside the museum, there are clean, modern restrooms—a welcome convenience. The photos and drawings of those who once lived and died here add a powerful, human element to the experience. It’s a thoughtfully preserved site that invites quiet reflection and respect.

A excellent glimpse into the old west and how harsh it was. This place is laid out perfectly and well worth the quick maneuver off the highway. The gallows were eerie!

This is a very interesting place and worth seeing. It gives you an idea of life on the edge of the frontier right after the Civil War. The rangers are very helpful. Judge Parker's courtroom looks great. Go see it!

If you are a history buff like me, you’ll love this place. The grounds are kept neat and clean and the builds are in good order. The displays inside are very descriptive and easy to read. The staff was very helpful and courteous. This is a must see if you are close to Ft. Smith.

We visited Fort Smith NHS while in town, and we enjoyed it. Their museum displays are nicely done, and some of them are even hands on. The re-enactment in their courtroom was fun to watch, especially with the large group of kids that were on “trial.” The park rangers were helpful, and the grounds were well-kept, with some really nice views of the Arkansas River.

Well appointed grounds, easy to navigate, nice river walk. Really appreciated the informative signage. A piece of civil war history that should not be missed.

I thought it was a bit overpriced for what you get (the grounds have unrestricted entry, so your admission is for the Visitor Center exhibits only), but ultimately I enjoyed the experience & recommend this place. The little movie was okay, & the jail section of the building was okay, but the 2nd-floor exhibits are well worth one's time & energy. So much to learn about the adventure & excitement, & also about the cost, of our country's growth. The importance of this place spans quite a chunk of our history. Very interesting.

The Rangers at this National Historic site were very nice and informative. The site has Native American history associated with the trail of tears. There are historic buildings on the premise and a train line that runs through the site which reminds you of the influence of the railroads. Nicely maintained trails that take you through downtown and towards the river.

Interesting to see a gallows were Judge Isaac Parker also know as the hanging Judge. Sentenced 160 people to hang; however only 79 faced the gallows. The jail was interesting. Well both jails were interesting. The tragic trail of tears was also told.

Many things stand out explaining why Fort Smith in the 1870s, '80s, into the '90s was known as hell on the border. Judge parker's Courtroom is great

If you enjoy history you'll have to see Fort Smith. What started out as a military insulation turned into a one stop law enforcement complex. It was where outlaws were brought after capture to be housed, judged and if need be executed. US Marshalls like Bass Reaves, criminals like Cherokee Bill, Belle Star, and the gang of 9 were tried by Judge Parker. If you have the time check prior to going because they hold real trials, and you might be asked to sit in on a jury to see if you would reach the same verdict they reached back in the days. Judge Parker would rather try to rehabilitate criminals rather than execute them, but for those who the law said had to be executed were hung at the gallows. Inmates were housed in one large cell, until they built a more modern cell block(3 floors) upstairs in the same building. Our tour guide(Dixie) provided a lot of interesting information. Would definitely recommend.

Nice place to stretch your legs and learn a little history. A short walk along the river will bring you to the old Fort Smith. There are placards along the way to help you learn about the areas history.

What an establishment run like clockwork with such information to soak up. Staff are very helpful and friendly and full of knowledge. Teas, coffees small snacks and a little shop all under one roof. Throughly enjoyed this little gem.

The Fort Smith National historic park it worth a quick stop. It’s right on the river, and had several parking lots.

The park itself is small, but has some trails that connect to the Trail of Tears.

Awesome historical visit! We had a group of 20 people from 5 years to 50 years old and it was a fun and educational tour for all of us.

This NPS site is a perfect example of what a modern renovation can accomplish. They did an excellent job bringing to life the specifics of how justice was administered in the late 1800's. That's the real emphasis here, i.e. on the courtroom, people involved, as well as the jail and capital punishment aspects of sentencing. The life-sized courtroom, jails, and opportunity to walk the actual jail space itself is amazing. The grounds of the 'fort' are limited in educational value, so for more info on frontier life in general there are better NPS sites elsewhere. As for just a nice walk, there's some space to see old buildings, gallows, and the former fort site by the river. The ranger there was really friendly and informative. Just an excellent visit all around. [PS the city itself is quite developed with lots to see if driving into the area for the day.]

Very nice place. Historically accurate friendly staff. Clean and well kept grounds.
Really enjoyed the day

My family and I visited recently. We loved it. The grounds and building are well maintained. The park staff was very helpful and friendly. The visitor center has multi floors of detailed exhibits and information, starting with why Fort Smith was initially established long before Judge Parker. It also ties the civil war, trail of tears, Indian Territory, Judge Parker, famous US Marshals and outlaws to Fort Smith. If you are a history buff, this is worth the stop.

If your into western history ( Arkansas was the “west” once) this is a great site. Old jail, gallows and court house are all very interesting. Lots of great exhibits. And as an added plus adjacent park area has a fantastic view of Arkansas River at sunset

Fort Smith National Historic Site is a very nicely done National Park site, with multiple options for learning and exploring. They chronicle the rise of law and order in the region on the Federal level, especially after the Civil War and pre-Oklahoma statehood. Tour the jail, the courtroom and see how it all came together when Fort Smith was a wild western town, just across the river from the Indian territory. A fascinating and worthwhile stop.

I would probably have given Fort Smith a higher rating, but we visited Little Rock High School earlier that day and were emotionally drained. This is our fifth time traveling cross country so my advice is to do one nice visit a day. Squeezing in too much in a day dilutes the experience. On the plus side, Fort Smith has a lot of history, many nice exhibits, and great views of the river. It's worth the stop.

Although only two original buildings remain, visitors get a good feel with the way the fort is presented. Several buildings are “recreated” with a floor plan created on the ground. Gallows have been constructed based on a sketch and contemporary writings.

We were in Ft. Smith to visit a friend and had down time so we went to the fort and learned a lot. I didn't realize how pivotal Ft. Smith was on the Trail of Tears. We walked the grounds on a stunning fall day - simply fantastic!

My wife and I were on our way west, stopping in Ft Smith or the evening. In search of a sunset, we wandered towards the river and found the Ft Smith historical park. The buildings, the grounds and the displays very thoroughly described the frontier life, especially the stories of the variou Native American tribes, and their tortuous treatment by the Army. “The Trail of Tears” is very well described.
Very good stop for those interested in our national history

Nice quiet scenic walk. You can learn some things along the walk there are several plaques to read, the commissary that you can go in. And a few surprises along the walk enjoy

We got there after visitors shop was closed but the park rangers were still around and willingly answered our questions and were so friendly and helpful.

Extremely interesting and well thought out historic location. Was able to see the old courthouse where The Hanging Judge handed out sentencing to the lawless. There was great history regarding the U.S. Marshall service.

We did a stop here to see this site and even though the buildings are closed maybe due to damage from the winter storms or Covid we enjoyed walking the grounds and reading the signs about the history of this fort. This activity is free and takes about 30 minutes if you want a place to stop and stretch your legs. A walking trail down to the Arkansas River is about a half mile walk from there. The gallows exhibit was really interesting but we love history. The buildings and ground are well maintained from the outside. Be careful around the steps of the main courthouse building as there are gigantic wasp nests as it appears no one has went into this building entrance in awhile.

So much history is such a small area. Worth the walk around to see. Luckily for us we visited on a free museum day, which was a lovely surprise. So many artefacts and much memorabilia, beautifully restored and kept.

A beautifully preserved chunk of history!
Fun and educational for all.
This is a Must for any and all history buffs.

This is a very nice park, good place to go for a afternoon outing. Statue of Bass Reeves was nice. The oldest building still standing was amazing the block work. The signs with all the information around the grounds was very interesting. The gallows were straight from an old western. Judge Parkers courtroom & jail was great, exhibits to look at, films to watch, & pictures of the day of the gangsters was wonderful. This is worth visiting again.

There was lots of good info posted outside on the grounds of the old fort. Unfortunately, we didn't get too go inside because of covid but it was still worth the stop.

Located in the downtown area, the remains of fort smith draw you back to the days on the frontier. This attraction provides lots of information in an interesting manner.
Some of the stories about outlaws and lawmen (sorry ladies), would make good Hollywood action films.
On this hot afternoon it would have been great to have water or other cold drinks available.

This was an unexpected, fun stop on our trek across the lower states. It was a great place to learn about the justice system of the time, and for the kids to get it and stretch their legs. All the park rangers (workers) were friendly and knowledgeable.

We learned so much that neither one of us had known about the history of this area and the Trail of Tears. The enactment camp was such a fun surprise … full of details about the lives of the soldiers. Fantastic!

You definitely need to check this place out if you're ever in Fort Smith at the great museum with lots of history and lots the fax people working there are very helpful as well

Our family recently started visiting NPS sites and parks and have enjoyed the Junior Ranger Program. My daughter lives in OK, so we decided to make a day trip to Fort Smith to visit the site. We planned on a couple hours, but were pleasantly surprised when we ended up spending the whole day there! So much history to be learned! My grandkids enjoyed their time with one of the Park Rangers who explained the muskets to them and gave them a little lesson with wooden muskets they had!! We enjoyed the walking tour around the Fort grounds and the park film in the Visitor Center. We also enjoyed the trail along the Arkansas River and up to Belle Pointe. So peaceful! Would recommend to anyone!!

If you like history, this is a great stop with a great museum (fee). The grounds are also quite beautiful for a picnic.

Had a great time here, nice people and quite a few tourist attractions. The mall was probably my favorite, quite nice, and fair prices

On our recent road trip, we made sure that we visited this historical site. I have to say, it was "well worth taking the time to stop". The park rangers are very friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. There is plenty of parking available either in the lot, or on the street. We spent a few hours touring the grounds absorbing the history of the fort and area. There is a video that starts the tour highlighting 80 years of turbulent history on the western frontier. The Court House and Barracks building are awesome. The Gallows. Commissary Building, and "Hell-on-the-Border Jail" are something to see. The entire park can be enjoyed on foot via its trails and walkways. There are many artifacts to be seen; learn about Soldiers; American Indians; Marshals; Outlaws; and Judge Parker, which really put the past into perspective. We highly recommend stopping at this hostoric site if your travels bring you this way. I hope you find the review helpful in making your travel plans.

Great preservation of both indian and our countries history. Plus the lawlessness of the area and judge Parker.

Enjoyed the history info as we walked under pretty trees. You could see remnants of the flood high in the trees and the scenic overlook was damaged but everything else was up to par. I think everybody could learn something here or just bask in nature! We did not go in any buildings as we had limited time.

It is a small but impactful site. There is free parking and a nominal fee to enter the museum. There is a small gift shop and a short film describing the importance of the site. Maps are available for the walking tour, with signage throughout the park. Definitely worth seeing.

This is a National Historic Site located in Fort Smith, Arkansas, along the Arkansas River. The first fort at this site was established by the United States in 1817, before this area was established as part of Indian Territory.
The grounds are spread out and go all the way to the Arkansas River. There’s a nice walking path with designated plaques talking about certain parts of the area.
The interior is an old jail and courthouse. It’s $10 a person to enter the national park part of the building. It’s well worth the money, as you start off with a 14 minute video and then continue on to all parts of the jail and courthouse.
The fort itself is long gone, but there are cement foundations pointing out where it used to be and also where the old fort used to be as well.
Great piece of American history. If you’re in the area, I highly recommend visiting the site.

A great place to learn about how the west was opened to settlers and the mass removal of native americans from the east -- often called the Trail of Tears. You can see the footprint of the first fort from the early 1800's along the Arkansas River and get an appreciation of challenges faced by the soldiers and the settlers. You should allot at least 2 hours so you can watch the video and see the park service displays.

Hello hello.
The exhibition and information on the site is very well placed and we left with a very good taste in our mouths and with knowledge of the area.

This is one of those places you shouldn't miss if you love history. I'm so glad we were able to make it here.

Nice park with restored buildings, knowledgeable guides. Interesting museum exhibits, recreated court room inside. Other interesting venues on site, including gallows.

Every time we visit this truly rich historical site it is always a new experience. Almost like time travel i can envision the bustling of the soldiers, merchants, and town's patrons as i walk the grounds reading the amazing information at various points around the park. It will make history real for all who visit.

Not only a pretty site, but very historical. And educational. One could take an hour or so, or spend an entire day just soaking up the history of the old west of the Oklahoma/Arkansas Territory. Everything you ever wanted to know about the "Hangin' Judge"!

I wasn’t expecting to see much but o was pleasantly surprised- the historic buildings (where the visitor center is) are worth a visit - see the old jails, court house, barracks, officers commissary, drill grounds for the soldiers etc. the fall color of the trees bring out the characters of the surrounding buildings. If I have to complain I would say the officers garden is not well maintained. It’s close to the trolley museum and museum of history - all within walking distance and close to the garrison street - can’t imagine how it looks like back in the old days when it was a more bustling city. My phone died so didn’t take pics

We were looking for things to do while traveling I-40. Stopped here for about 3 hours and had a great time checking out the history connected to Ft Smith.

Had 2 young teens with us who actually enjoyed the fort as well. The rangers were all very helpful and seemed to have considerable knowledge of the location.

The grounds and buildings were immaculate. Most of the displays were done very well. They could use a little help updating or maybe even completing some areas. It seemed like there were "Holes" that needed work.

Overall this is a great time and certainly worth a visit.

Call ahead if you're parking an RV. The fort is in the middle of town. The streets are narrow and lots of one ways. Not knowing any better we parked several blocks away in a vacant lot. Ranger at the desk said they had RV parking but I never did see it. I'd recommend you call and get instructions to park an RV.

The walking tour was less than a mile and informative. It is as I expected for a National Park, I am a member so I could just walk in SEE & enjoy the displays. I had just seen the old Clint Eastwood & Inger Stevens movie "Hang Em High" and the court room of the "hangin" judge Parker was really well done! We were pleasantly greeted & guided and questions answered by the Rangers. The children running around seem to enjoy the gallows.

A great history lesson in downtown Ft. Smith. The grounds are lovely and the visitor’s center, jail, gallows, etc. are wonderfully restored. There is an entry fee, which is covered by the federal lands pass. Free parking.

Such an incredible experience, getting to walk around the museum and see the history with the prison and learn about Cherokee bill and Judge Parker …

My volunteer tour guide, John Spain, is what really made the experience five stars… He was so incredibly knowledgeable and fun and just took it from another museum to a very personal tour with incredible insight, stories, and ended with a private banjo session showing me his skills! He also took photos for me to remember the tour! Thank you, John for the hospitality making Fort Smith a trip I will never forget!

Parts of the site are quite interesting and visually stimulating, and most of the rest just beautiful natural areas. You must view the hanging area, and tour the courthouse and jail building. The gentleman who gave my wife and I and on other couple a great guided tour packed with tidbits and anecdotes. He must have been doing this for many years and is very entertaining. Very much worth seeing.

1st time in area. Visitor center was very helpful and enjoyed museum and walking self guided tour of grounds. We had excellent weather.

Seeing Fort Smith for the first time was really cool for me as I am a big fan of westerns and Fort Smith is where the hero was always trying to get for protection or he was taking the bad guy there. The best place to start is the Visitor Center as they have a short video to watch and explain about the first Fort and the second. The recreated jail and courtroom were neat to see as Fort Smith was also home to Judge Parker the hanging judge. The commissary is the oldest building in the city as it was built in 1846. We strolled over to the site of the first Fort which is much to see and then went to the Trail of Tears Overlook. It was a great time and we left just as a school group was getting there.

Fort Smith changed hands during the Civil War from the Confederate Army to the zunion Army. The site is very informative, although a little challenging for anyone who is mobility-impaired. Limited parking. Worth a visit, but pretty hot in mid-July.

This site is beautiful and very well maintained. Plan on an hour or two to enjoy walking the grounds, the views, and visit the remaining buildings and museum.

This is a very nice well kept park with nice walking trails. The history is amazing and is preserved nicely. I recommend this place to anyone interested in history or just being outdoors in general. Great view of the river and a great place to relax.

Historic Fort Smith, Arkansas is full of history. It is a quiet city with a beautiful river walk that incorporates civil war history, Old Judge Parker's (the Hanging Judge) Courthouse and Gallows used for hanging outlaws, murderers and rapist, Trolley Museum, old Ferris Wheel and National Cemetery. The main streets go out from downtown like spokes on a wagon wheel. You can sit and enjoy the river flow in peace and quiet and watch the Oklahoma's side of the river at the same time. It can take you back in time.

Fort Smith National Historic Site is a compact National Park property that tells the story of the beginnings of the western movement in our country. Specofically it tells of the relocation of American Indian Tribes, to make way for the westward push of the early whit6e settelers. The Trail of Tears passed through Fort Smith, and the beautiful grounds of this site mask the hardships endured by the Native Americans. A secondary story tells of the wild west atmosphere that filled the gap as the Indians were pushed west. Hanging Judge Parker, and a gallows, are part of this story. You can spend a good half day here and learn some interesting bits of history.

The NPS uses the archives to improve and increase understanding of territorial US border days. Night courts are an excellent example of this. The staff is great to work with.

Recommend a visit if you are a history buff. Covers Ft. Smith history as well as Indian Territory and Civil War.

Nice day to walk and soak in the area. As with many places the buildings were not open to visit but we walked the grounds and enjoyed the history. Area is not very large so easy to do so with the paved walk areas. The gallows are open to view also.

Group of men dressed in period clothing were going thru safety protocols to fire the cannons later in the day. Did not stay but cool to see them in action.

Right across the street is a good little museum and a trolley stop if interested.

very informative/interesting. The grounds were impeccably maintained as well. I visited in early Spring 2016, & was very comfortable with the atmosphere /enviroment offered there.

This was an important site for the development of the West during 1800’s. People of importance and notoriety all came through this location. The facilities were interesting and well preserved. The Jr Ranger program is another good one and enhances the learning.

We got here 45 minutes before closing but the great thing is the entrance fee gets you in for a week! We spent the first evening exploring the outside exhibits and then came back the next morning to finish the inside exhibits. We were really glad we watched the video in the morning because it gave us a great perspective on how the fort changed overtime. It was really neat to see the different jail exhibits to see how things improved over time. Lots of nice walking paths along the grounds with great views of the river.

I stopped here on my way to New Mexico. (I had even lived in Fort Smith but never visited!) My visit lasted about 2 hours, and I saw everything: intro film, jail, exhibits, courtroom, commissary, gallows, and river. There is lots of free parking, and this is where I bought my national park pass (since it was the first fee park I was visiting on my road trip). I knew very little about Indian removal and learned quite a bit here.

Very well done! Watch the 15 minute movie for a great history overview! The staff is friendly. It’s next to the Ft Smith History Museum and a short walk to the visitor’s center and river walk area.

One of the coolest places i have ever been,its take you back to the 1840's and the history of the wild west and the courtroom of Judge Parker.Across the river is Indian Terrority which is now Oklahoma.

There is a $10 per person entry fee, no charge with a NPS Service Senior Pass. Definitely see the video before touring the building and grounds. Tour the barracks/jail/courthouse building and ensure that you visit the jail downstairs and Judge Parker's Courtroom. Also on the way out stop and visit the gallows. Very interesting visit.

Must see in Ft Smith. Easy to visit, spend an hour learning the history of both the fort soldiers and later U.S. Marshalls contributions to westward expansion

We stopped here to stretch our legs and walked the trail around the historic site. The markers with the history of Fort Smith made the trail more interesting.

For Smith NHS is actually the site of two different forts built in this strategic location in the 19th Century. Nothing but the foundations remain of the first fort, and only two buildings from the second remain. One houses the visitor’s center/museum, but it was closed due to the government shutdown when I visited. There are walking paths with ample signage around the fort’s remains. It took me about 45 minutes to walk and see everything. The museum likely would have made the visit better and more informative about the history, but there isn’t a lot to see here.

I really learned a few things at this site. The guide was very personable and friendly and informative. Spent at least an hour and a half walking through the buildings. Glad we stopped here.

I was in Ft. Smith for business, and happened across this historic site. Very well curated and surprisingly reverent in its treatment of the history and significance of events that took place here. It’s free, with well maintained grounds and super knowledgeable NPS staff. Take a little time out of your travels to take in all that exists here. You’ll be glad you did.

Very Nice Hotel..Very Friendly Staff.Very Good Buffet Room'are large and roomie. Very Quiet..Parkin is very good

I didn't get the full tour of the historic site and the inside was closed due to Covid. I did tour the grounds which were nice and well kept. This was great after being on the road all morning. The site is free to walk around. You can visit the courthouse, gallows and river area without going inside. I would have liked to see the museum but will save that for a non-pandemic time. I enjoyed the the history of the gallows and the Hanging Judge. The site is just another example of American history that needs to be preserved and they have done a good job here.

The actual Fort Smith is a great museum /historical site. We went to find out more about Judge Issac Parker, the hanging judge. We accomplished that and learned a tremendous amount about the role Arkansas and Ft Smith played as the end point for the Trail of Tears. I think all Americans visit so they can learn from our past.

Very well kept national historic site. Excessive Covid restrictions still in effect so the Visitor Information Center remains closed.

Grounds are great to walk around with signs noting significant events or structures. Very peaceful along the Arkansas river.

The museum and the displays around the grounds do a very good job of presenting and interpreting the role Fort Smith played in American expansion and in Indian/army activities. The trail through the grounds and to the river is wheelchair friendly and offers good access to habitat niches used by birds.

While attending my daughter's dance competition at the Fort Smith Convention center, I thought it would be a good idea to see some local attractions with my son. We were pleasantly surprised at the excellent state of the historic buildings and structures, as well as the quality of the information available around the park.

This is a nice site to walk around and get a little bit of history as well. Walk down to the river, and you can see the Oklahoma border. Also I recommend going to hanging gallows. I forget the judges name, but he is mentioned in the movie True Grit.

Free museum with perfect welcome.
Very nice site, well arranged, clean and crowd free.
Numerous explanations through various channels and educational means.
Not to be missed!

Very educational piece of history, unfortunately due to Covid 19, all the inside areas were closed. We were still able walk around the grounds, and see the hanging scaffolding...and tour the old commissary...we will be back, when everything opens up.

Nice place to walk. Nice piece of history. Didn't visit the museum this time but liked the area. Nice surprise for the area. Trollies nice little downtown area. Plenty of security

You can tour the beautiful grounds for free, but there is a fee to tour the museum inside. Don't miss it! All about how law & order came to the West, US Marshals, their weapons, the jail, and of course, Judge Isaac Parker.

This place is special to all locals as it showcases the deep history of the Arkansas/Oklahoma border area. This area has a rich history going back to the early 1800's and this park is a nice tribute to that long western heritage and law enforcement. I highly recommend a tour through the Fort Smith National Historic Site.

2017, to be exact Christmas Day will be the 200th birthday of the founding of the Fort and later the city. All year long the city and the fort will be having special parties, programs, gatherings and just amazing stuff to do and see. Check it out .

We visited the Fort Smith historical site today.
It was very interesting to go into the historic buildings and see the old jail were they kept prisoners (76 of which were hanged on the nearby gallows) and the old courtroom were many were tried and sentenced. The grounds, buildings and exhibits all have signs explaining each item in detail.
When you walk through and around the buildings and grounds it is easy to imagine what must have been like to be here in the 1800’s.

This is a quiet, peaceful place with an interesting history. The foundations of several of the old building and walls from the previous forts are visible and the site of the original fort has a good view of the confluence of two rivers with a nice walking path, big shade trees, and informative markers.

Very well kept museum; Emily, made us comfortable & informed us on many of the exhibits. I had my twin 5yo's with us, so we had to take turns educating ourselves. Lovely time, interesting history, & well kept grounds.

This fort shows how horrifying the policies on the indeginous people it has been. It is a great place to learn the history. If you ask, the knowledgeable staff will show you the books with author's autograph.

We drove by this site as I had my mom with me and walking isn’t always possible but we were able to view enough information to make this quick drive by worthwhile. I’d lime to go back and check it out on foot when we are able to do so. Very interesting place.

Thoroughly displayed via films, docents, and park rangers! Very revealing about our past and its relationship with our native Americans!

Beautiful places to have family pictures taken. Had pic taken yesterday. Senior High School as well as grandkids pics. Love the atmosphere.

The history lesson was amazing. we went on bikes and had a blast. The views were great and the people you meet are awesome..

There is so much history here. Absolutely worth spending the time walking around and reading about the history of the area. Military history or just history buffs in general will enjoy this place.

A nice place to go to learn about frontier justice. They have some good movies about the fort’s beginnings, and many displays depicting the environment at that time. The story about Judge Parker and the US Marshals was interesting. The buildings and gallows is very authentic. A nice stop.

I had not scanned this scene in decades and was impressed by the changes and upgrades. There is a walking trail from the Cemetary and old courthouse site to the old original fort site nearer the river. Great views of the river front. Informative signs and plaques give info about the site. Great for a history lesson or just a walk in the park. Thumbs up!

Interesting history of this area's fort and jail. Replica of jail not bad with windows but must have been "hell upon earth" stuck underground. Gallows are visable and court room. This was the terminus of the Trail of Tears.

Our family of homeschooled kids explored Fort Smith & did the Junior Ranger program. We usually get about half a dozen National Parks each year & this is the first in this region. The kids, 12 11 8 4 & 3 liked the grounds & barracks/courthouse. This was the 4 year old's first Junior Ranger program & she was pretty proud when she finished it.

Nice grounds for a walk that you don't have to pay a fee for if you don't go through the exhibits in the Visitor Center.

You can see the foundation left from an old fort that was near the river, while viewing the Arkansas river. It is a very pretty area. Information along the sidewalks tell you the history of the area. There are gallows where they hung people back in the day. This is the original beginning to the wild west.

This Historic site give a true classroom experience to all that enjoy true american history. From the Old Fort in Fort Smith to the Five Civilized Tribes to the infamous Hanging Judge Parker. I would strongly recommend this Museum to all that visit Fort Smith, AR

Great place to visit. Learn history and take a walk around the fort. Very nice place and great friendly staff.

Before we visited, I had no clue about Deputy US Marshall Bass Reeves, that this was the actual frontier back in the day.
Nor that it was/is the home of Fort Chaffee, which has been in feature films, a refugee camp and was the place Elvis had that legendary barbershop photo taken when he was drafted into the US Army.

A fascinating town with a real history that I hope they never neglect.

Judge Parker's courtroom, the old jail, and the gallows are worth stopping by for a visit. The surrounding grounds and walking trails are beautiful.

Welcome to Fort Smith:) Old time justice handed out back in the day at this location:) Loved the simple Fort grounds, so much history to just take in:) The people back in the day that walked these grounds:) and those who met the rope. The gallows are humbling in my opinion. Inside the Fort to can walk on the old stone original floor:) Back in time! Inside is done well, very interesting:) Ranger was full of information:) Enjoyed the 15min. film that talks about the Forts history:) There is a small fee, then again for serious park hoppers you should have the yearly pass:)

My husband and I took this trip on the spur of the moment. Really enjoyed our visit and recommend for history buffs along with families. Always fun to visit our historic sites.

The museum is awesome with displays from the wild border town known as Hell on the Border, the courageous Marshals, and even the Hanging Judge’s (Judge Isaac C. Parker’s) courtroom! If you don’t want to spend money on tickets, just enjoy walking around on the beautiful grounds reading the plaques. Remember, too, that your National Park passes work here!

Not that much new to us history buffs, but always learn something. Loved the info about jails and actually seeing one. I'm sure it was not anywhere as clean as this museum. Too bad the marshal museum is not to open. Finding the park and getting from parking lot to building, needs better signage. Had to ask twice.

Great local history found at the Fort Smith National Historic Site. Explore the gallows along the riverfront, and walk the paved trails to take you back in time....

It was nice and little. The walk was the best thing about it. It was a nice workout. It was interesting. I feel like the workers could have been more enthusiastic and better at their job. We went inside and looked around the gift shop. Many families just walked through to the part that was $10 a person but when we went to, they asked for us to pay. My father went back in and walked through and they didn’t say anything.

This is a smaller historic site. The introductory film was interesting, and the displays upstairs were informative. My favorite part was the jail room, which was one big room in the basement. Take the short walk to the old fort site along the Arkansas river and see the demarcation between Arkansas and Indian Territory. The Trail of Tears came through Fort Smith. We probably would have walked more trails, but there was a cold wind the day we visited.

I had been through Fort Smith several times and never had the opportunity to stop at this Site. I am really glad that I finally made time. The rangers at the Visitors Center are absolutely excellent. Being that I was visiting on a rainy day, there weren't very many visitors so this afforded me the opportunity to talk wit the rangers and staff about this site. Wow, I did not realize what a historic gem Fort Smith is. I really like the old jail and Courtroom. Yes this is the Same Courtroom where Judge Parker "The Hanging Judge" held court and tried more than 13,000 cases as a federal judge. Being a fan of the Movie True Grit, it was fun to see where the actual Judge Parker presided. The visitor's center gift shop also takes note of their True Grit Connection which several books and souvenirs relating to the movie available. I after visiting the Old Courtroom and Jail I enjoyed walking around the round especially taking the trail down to the river where affords you a great view. I absolutely enjoy my visit here and would advise anyone traveling in the Fort Smith area to pay this site a visit.

Very nice great museum family oriented. Great historical place. Good food all round this area Really close to the Arkansas River this is a neat thing to visit when coming to Fort Smith

This is a wonderful National Park that preserves a very important era of Arkansas — when it was a frontier state. The main building has a great museum upstairs and visitors can walk through actual prisoner quarters downstairs. You can even experience what it was like to sit in the Hanging Judge's courtroom. The old town and gallows are just a few minute walk from the museum. If you have time, there are some fine displays near the water to read.

I had been here decades ago and they have really expanded the exhibits and the tour into a very comprehensive review of the history of the Fort, the court and especially the story of The Trail of tears and the Nations. There is much detail in a large display of that unfortunate chapter of our nation's history and I commend the Park system for presenting it without censor. The rebuild of the Jail house and the presentation of cells and stories of the criminals who were held there was informational and entertaining. The details presented in Parker's courtroom about the Judge and his beliefs added a third dimension of a complex character of the west who wasn't really the hanging judge he is portrayed. Then spend the time on the walking tour that takes you around the remains of the original Fort that existed on this spot. All in all, an afternoon well spent. it's is weird that the one memory I had from my first visit is the Judge's courtroom was the spitting image of the one used in the movie Hang em High which was based on Judge Parker. That courtroom is very different looking now as it turned out the original restoration was from a picture of his second court after it moved from this location and it has been redone to actually reflect how his courtroom there actually appeared

The Park Service Visitor Center building with the jail and Judge Parker’s Courtroom has finally re-opened!
The Park Service folks were great, and the second floor exhibits of the Courtroom and cut-away jail cells was fantastic!
Well worth the trip - an outstanding experience!

Gravesites of the rich, poor, young ,old- but all veterans or their families! A walking history lesson- and a tribute to those who have served. Beautifully maintained and deeply moving!

This is another place to not miss when visiting Fort Smith! You will gain alot of interesting facts about this area if you take the time to tour all the sites! Enjoy!

Talk about taking a step back in time, this place was well-maintained and really brought a unique charm to the area. Due to a Storm, we drove to the cemetery at 8:45pm and were thrilled to find it open. It was just so peaceful and clean. What a gem of a site.

Due to COVID-19, the building was closed, but you can visit the outside and signage is provided. Also, the gallows are open, and information provided there.

Unfortunately we didn’t have enough time to explore all this site but it is such an interesting area I would definitely recommend this as a destination to be enjoyed at your leisure

This site really brings alive the old Fort Smith fort history from back when it was part of the frontier land. Great place to take an afternoon lunch break. Very peaceful.

The grounds are very well taken care of and the museum is very interesting. The kids loved earning their junior ranger badges, and the staff was very knowledgeable and friendly. We learned a lot. The grounds are free. You only pay for the museum.

Fort Smith National Historic Site provides tons of information about the rich history of Fort Smith. The grounds were beautiful, and the park rangers were helpful. The trail of tears overlook is a must see. Amazing history!

Didn't get to spend as much time here as we wanted as 3 bus loads of high schoolers were unloading and the place became instantly crowded. Did get a few photos before they reached the visitor center and was able to get into and out of the visitor center before the crowds rolled in. The grounds were lovely and the buildings were well maintained. Grateful that we did go but wish that circumstances let us tay longer.

Interesting national monument. Great for history buffs. Indoor and outdoor displays. Some original buildings.

Absolutely fabulous! A must for any History Buff! Lots of walking; outbuildings are wonderful, great view of the river; fascination exhibits.

More than just a fort. The location was the home of the first US Marshalls, it served as a court, a jail and a gallows. There was film and displays in the visitors center. You can walk toward the river to find the foundation of the first fort. Picnic tables are available.

The grounds and history of this old place provide a good peek into how the west was won. It was tough, rugged, raw and unforgiving at times, but what led to this wonderful country. The gallows alone will provide cause to pause.

We love history and this location did not disappoint. One can walk around and see the gallows, the old jail, the courtroom and watch a 15 minute video on the history of the buildings. Worth our time.

Lots of history and very well presented. Great place for families to experience the early expansion of the western history.

Located down by the River. There is a park adjacent that we were walking in and were able to walk around the property. Good signage explaining the grounds and I think there is even a audio tour you can dial into somehow. They still have Judge Parker's gallows and if there is a noose visible than it is an anniversary of an actual hanging. Its part of our history. Gift shop was limited and we did not go into any of the actual exhibits.

My husband and I became aware of Fort Smith after reading about Bass Reeves in Black Gun, Silver Star. During our visit we discovered how charming the town is. Starting with the hilarious visitor center located in an original brothel, all our tour guides were very friendly and were very informative about Fort Smith history. They also referred us to nearby historical sites in Van Buren as well as Fort Gibson and Tehlequah Oklahoma. We had a fabulous time visiting all the sites in Fort Smith even through the hot stormy weather, including a fun farmers market and Christmas in July event at the convention center.

To be fair I was mostly interested in the civil war battle that took place outside of the Fort Smith National Historic Site. I had contacted the site prior to my visit, and they sent me a map that was very useful via E-mail. At the visitor center I asked about those locations to a lady working the counter, she didn't know anything about them, but was helpful in calling another lady who she thought might be helpful. This person I thought was rather rude, and slightly combative in attempting to tell me things I know wasn't factual possibly in an attempt to discourage me in what I was looking for. The person I had come to take with, was unfortunately not able to meet with me, because he was preparing for a evening program. A lot more could and should be done at the site to tell the story of the fort during the Civil War. The gift shop with book store was first class, and I did purchase two Blue & Gray mag. they had covering Indian Territory and fort Smith during the war. I spent most of my time outside the site attempting to locate the fort positions around the town after Fed. occupation in 1863. It would be nice to have markers where these places were.

Fort Smith National Historic Site has an excellent museum and beautiful grounds to tour. Was a pleasant stop and the history of the fort is very interesting.

My great grandfather was the court crier for Judge Issac Parker and my grandmother grew up in the Commissary building. Since I was a child we have been visiting the Fort Smith National Historic Site. Many changes have taken place over the years and I like this place. Gorgeous overlook to the Arkansas River and the museum is informative and gives one an informative look at the early history of the first fort, second fort and later the courthouse.

Cool National Historic Site with expansive grounds to check out and a pretty decent museum detailing its history. Make sure to check out both downstairs and upstairs.

Such a nice park with informative displays from the beginning of the fort in 1817 to the second fort then civil war and then Judge Parker. The history of the fort along with the Native Americans and how the government treated them and their lands and the bravery of the US Marshall’s . It is all here along with walking trails.

I was looking forward to visiting here, but the inside was still closed from water damage from February of 2021 and I visited in September, grounds were nice and seen a lot here from the outside, It is worth your time and effort for the history. Take your time and stroll the grounds, Rangers were sitting outside with brochures and if you needed assistance

The historic site had many great exhibits, including a gallows and the prison. Visitors can check out devices which play more of the history for many of the exhibits. You just need to leave an ID at the front desk. I learned quite a bit about the history of the area including the heart-braking stories of the Trail of Tears.

Fort Smith has an amazing history catalogued at their National Historic Site. The park service maintains the beautiful grounds over looking the Arkansas and Poteau rivers. The jail is preserved allowing visitors to imagine the inmates and their living conditions under the rule of "the hanging judge." Indian hardships are detailed throughout the exhibits in pictures and first hand accounts. A great place to learn history.

I love the atmosphere and the beer is amazing. They have a great selection and sometimes have live music.

This is an interesting site to visit. You can learn all about "hanging" Judge Parker, and they have a replica of his gallows here. It's a fascinating look at Fort Smith history.

Adults and tweens liked the Fort. Staff are helpful and knowledgeable. We appreciated the volunteers chatting and sharing the afternoon with us. Nice outdoor walking paths. Short, informative video inside air conditioned building (cushy chairs) at the beginning followed by self guided walking tour with exhibits inside and outside. Stroller and wheelchair accessible. The upstairs had a fascinating American Indian language exhibit and the opportunity to lock your kid (or spouse) in a jail cell. Highly recommend!

The museum is interesting and well done. I especially enjoyed the walk along the river and learning more about the trail of tears.

We walked the grounds on the outside & skipped the paid tour inside.
There was a lot of interesting history.
The rain did bring the water level up quite a bit, but could still do the walk outside & wasn’t too long for the kids.

If you are in Fort Smith take the time to visit this historical site. You can see the history of the original military fort, info about the hanging Judge Parker, the gallows and see the view point for a part of the Trail of Tears.

Had no idea Fort Smith National Historic Site existed until I read a review about it. What a wonderful place to spend an afternoon. The park sits where two rivers meet and is now very peaceful. Interpretive plaques are scattered throughout the park. Would highly recommend a visit here.

Worth a visit. Grounds offer a park stroll with educational signs telling of the first Ft. Smith. On the grounds of the second Ft. Smith is a museum in the old army barracks building. It has nice educational display givng an overview of it's later use as a jail and federal courthouse for Judge Parker. His courtroom is similar as he used it and the old and new jail rooms. Also included is an interesting display on US Marshalls. A new US Marshalls museum is to have ground broken this summer but ewo't be ready for a couple years.
This is a National Parks site, so make sur to bring along your Parks Pass.

This was a relatively small, but well maintained NPS site. The museum had what appeared to be new exhibits and it took us about an hour to walk through. The staff was friendly and offered to start the orientation video for us. The outside grounds are well maintained, too, with things to do/see, but there were several unhoused people lingering. There is ample parking and the city has done a nice job of incorporating this site into the business district.

We really enjoyed our visit to Fort Smith because as big fans of western movies you hear a lot about Judge Parker and the US marshals that work for him. The only drawback was the visitor center was closed due to the storm in February 2021 and the walk to the river was also closed due to storm. We did enjoy reading and seeing the gallows and the commissary (the oldest standing building at Fort Smith). Just walking around the grounds was refreshing as the weather was great when we were there. I just miss buying t-shirts from the visitor center and viewing the inside of the museum.

I had time to kill while in Fort Smith and ended up here. I learned a lot about the history of Fort Smith. It was interesting to see the gallows, the old buildings, and the original fort. I also took a peaceful walk along the river and saw the Trail of Tears Memorial. It was interesting, sad, and humbling to explore the dark side of American history.

The United States has many wonderful National Parks, Monuments and Memorials, and sometimes the smaller guys get hidden behind the "Grand Canyons" and "Washington Monuments." If you are ever in Ft. Smith, AK, do yourself a favor and visit the National Site there. It is on beautiful grounds right off the Arkansas River and not only was the sit a Civil War camp, it was also the court house of Judge Parker, the town jail and gallows, and it was on the "Trail of Tears." Plus right outside of town, Elvis got his first GI haircut at Ft. Chaffee. What more could you ask for?

If your in the reading a lot then it's the place for you..Not really much for keeps to do more for the adults.. The place is great and all but not really for family just a heads up kids will get tired of waiting...

We recently had a large amount of family visiting and they wanted to get out and explore and this turned out to be the perfect place. Huge amount of space to walk around and learn about the history of Fort Smith and get lots of great pictures of the river. The path is completely paved and there are lots of benches along the way for people who need to rest. This would be a great place to take the pups out for a walk and it’s so pretty by the river.

My Husband and I stopped by this park while we were in Ft. Smith because we had a little time to kill. We were impressed. Very pretty place on the Arkansas River that separates Arkansas and Oklahoma. There were lots of signs explaining what used to be located at each site where the Old Fort stood. You can go in the old court house which is a visitor's center and museum now. There are very nice, clean restrooms and a gift shop when you enter. You can pay $7 to enter the museum to see a film and old things but we did not have the time. We really enjoyed this beautiful stop. Perfect for picnics or just a nice walk. We plan on taking our grandsons soon.

I lived in area most my life and never do I get tired of coming back to this historic site to where so many things in history arose. From hanging judge Parker to trail of tears. If in the area welcome & visit the gallows as well.

This site has good historical content but the grounds are especially nice. Take a stroll at sunset along the river bank. Great place for date night.

As a Passport Stamp collector, all National sites are great! This one did not disappoint! Nice exhibits, good film and as usual friendly staff!
Our granddaughters, 9 and 11, were fascinated wither the gallows! Audio at that exhibit was very good!

This fort was built in 1817 because of a feud between Osage and Cherokee tribes.
Many trails, mail routes, stagecoach trails all met at Fort Smith on the way to Oklahoma and the Southwest. The various Indian "Trails of Tears" funneled into Fort Smith before entering "Indian territory" (Oklahoma). The grounds of Fort Smith National Historic Site preserve a beautiful area beside the Arkansas river. Several short walking trails traverse the park.

Lots of history at the fort. From the time settlers were heading west, the Indians being relocated and processed here, to its days hosting the Hanging Judge Parker. Friendly and helpful Park Rangers.

We had no idea of the interesting history of Fort Smith! It is fascinating and they do a wonderful job of making it interesting and easy to understand and hands on! We got here with only an hour and 15 minutes before closing and happened to join a tour they were doing for 10th grade school kids. They have a nice 15 minute video and we got an hour tour with a wonderful informative enthusiastic young ranger! We decided we don't want to miss any of the National Historic Sites when we travel! We had no idea of the history of this area and the old West here in Arkansas and would have missed out on a treat to have not checked this out! They have done a marvelous job of preserving the history that was here in showcasing it! Today I go to the Fort Smith history museum that the young ranger recommended while my husband is at his business meeting. I expected to be equally good from what he said!

This site is one of the best places to learn about the early beginning of Fort Smith.The grounds are well kept with historical markers and original buildings still standing.It's for sure worth a visit when your in the area.

Unfortunately I didn't have much time available when visiting so didn't get chance to go in to the museum. But it's an interesting place to walk around. There are some good informative plaques to read around the site.

Even if you don’t love history, this is a great place to visit and take your children if possible. If you ever watch any of the old West movies, they mention Fort Smith or hanging Judge Parker and they have a excellent museum and you can see where the prison Exie was. Very insightful, and really great guides!

If you love history this place is a must see! From the courthouse/jail/barracks to the commissary to the gallows and reading historical facts how the fort was used back in the day.

Beautiful area where two rivers meet. Lots of history here, it's easy to drift away to a time long gone. The old jail, the gallows and court house are impressive.The walking traiIs are well kept and drop down to the rivers.It is next to downtown Fort Smith which has been greatly improved over the last few years. It is a nice place to spend an afternoon.

If you have seen the movies Hang 'Em High or True Grit (either the original or the remake), this is a must do. Even if you haven't seen them, its a cool visit.

The place had a good amount of historical and educational artifacts and memorabilia. Beautiful setting

This intro movie started it off and was very good. I learned the the west was wild. Marshalls were needed and serve a great role. The Indians got pushed off their land, got screwed again. Some of our presidents were despicable in their collusions with the white invaders.

My husband is a civil war buff and he was not aware of this site. The historic site and buildings were very informative and clean. The Park Ranger at the desk was born in Ft Smith and was full of information about this site.
There is enough to see and do to keep you involved for over 2-3 hours (if you walk the grounds also)