Sightseeing and History in Fort Smith Arkansas
A good way to get to know Fort Smith is to begin at its most prominent National Historic Site, Judge Parker's Federal Courthouse, which is located on the spot where the original Fort that the city is named after, stood. From here, visitors can wander through the history of the area learning as they go about the real Wild West, while surrounded by the history of a town that was a waystation on the "Trail of Tears" and host to the preeminent icon of frontier justice the courtroom of Judge Isaac C. Parker. On the outskirts of the city lies Camp Chaffee; where Elvis Presley enlisted and lost his locks in World War II; later to become a relocation facility and refugee camp during both the Vietnamese Evacuation and the Cuban Boat Lift. Still more of the city's history is preserved in the Belle Grove Historic District, a 22-square-block area listed on the National Historic Registery. Homes, some as much as 150 years old, stand gracefully amid the brick-paved streets and contain a number of notable residences such as the William O. Darby House, the Vaughn-Schaap House and the Clayton House. If your feeling a litty bawdy, or even if you ar not, you will want to stop by the city's official visitor center at Miss Laura's house -- the only former house of prostitution on the National Register of Historic Places. From there it's a short walk to the home of George Maledon, known as the Hangman's House, because George was the man who carried out executions for Judge Isaac Parker for a number of years.
And there's more..., the Fort Smith Air Museum and the Fort Smith Trolley Museum are favorites of anyone interested in transportation history; the U.S. National Cemetery in Fort Smith, can be reached by the trolley and is within walking distance of the nostalgic and beautiful downtown area of Fort Smith as is the Fort Smith Museum of History. Midway across town, Oak Cemetery provides more rich history for researchers and visitors alike; there you will find the final resting place of many of Judge Parker's deputy U.S. Marshalls, along with the outlaws they brought to justice. Fort Smith is filled with history.
The Arts
The Fort Smith Art Center, which is housed in the Vaughn-Schaap House in the Belle Grove Historic District, is an architectural work of art and a rare exquisite example of the Victorian style buildings in Fort Smith.
The Fort Smith Chorale provides singers with the opportunity to learn and present chorale music.
The Western Arkansas Ballet Company offers lavish productions of well-known ballets and operates a ballet academy with summer ballet instruction for local children and adults.
The Fort Smith Symphony Orchestra performs classical and popular music throughout the region.
If the theater is more to your taste, you will want to visit the Fort Smith Little Theater -- a local production company that hosts comedies, dramas and musicals year-round at its facilities on North 5th Street. You can also catch a performance of "The Medicine Show on Hanging Day" at Miss Laura's Visitor Center, featuring Miss Laura and Hanging Judge Parker as characters.
Many other seasonal events can be found going on throughout the year - so what are you waiting for, come to Fort Smith and discover why we believe that Life is Worth Living, in Fort Smith Arkansas.
Arts and Culture Information: Fort Smith Convention & Visitors Bureau, 2 North B, Fort Smith, AR 72901; telephone (800)637-1477 or (479)783-8888