The Old West at Fort Smith
Fort Smith was home to the
court of Old West "Hanging
Judge" Isaac Parker.
Fort Smith was home to the
court of Old West "Hanging
Judge" Isaac Parker.
Fort Smith and the Frontier
Established by the U.S. Army,
Fort Smith was a vital post on
the Western frontier.
Established by the U.S. Army,
Fort Smith was a vital post on
the Western frontier.
Fort Smith: Where the Old South meets the Old West!
ExploreSouthernHistory.com - Fort Smith, Arkansas
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Located on the far western border of
Arkansas, the modern and progressive city of
Fort Smith has a history unlike any other
community in the nation.
This was the place where the "Old South"
met the "Old West." A frontier fort that grew
into a rough and rowdy Old West city, Fort
Smith was an important stop on the Trail of
Tears, a key objective during the Civil War
and the setting for the popular novel True
Grit. The cantankerous deputy marshal
"Rooster" Cogburn," popularized on the big
screen by John Wayne, may have been
based on a real life "one-eyed marshal" from
Fort Smith.
Fort Smith was also the home to the U.S.
Court for the Western District of Arkansas
and its larger than life jurist, "Hanging Judge"
Isaac C. Parker. An opponent of the death
penalty, Parker sentenced more men to hang
than any Federal judge in American history.
Today Fort Smith is the second largest city in
Arkansas and boasts an impressive array of
historic sites, museums, restaurants and
other attractions. Recently named as the
future home of the $24 million national
museum of the U.S. Marshals Service, Fort
Smith is emerging as a major center for
heritage tourism.
The city has one of the finest small airports in
the nation and is located on Interstate 40
between Little Rock and Oklahoma City. An
outstanding gateway for exploring the history
of the western frontier and the Ozarks and
Ouachita Mountains, Fort Smith is an
unforgettable destination.
Arkansas, the modern and progressive city of
Fort Smith has a history unlike any other
community in the nation.
This was the place where the "Old South"
met the "Old West." A frontier fort that grew
into a rough and rowdy Old West city, Fort
Smith was an important stop on the Trail of
Tears, a key objective during the Civil War
and the setting for the popular novel True
Grit. The cantankerous deputy marshal
"Rooster" Cogburn," popularized on the big
screen by John Wayne, may have been
based on a real life "one-eyed marshal" from
Fort Smith.
Fort Smith was also the home to the U.S.
Court for the Western District of Arkansas
and its larger than life jurist, "Hanging Judge"
Isaac C. Parker. An opponent of the death
penalty, Parker sentenced more men to hang
than any Federal judge in American history.
Today Fort Smith is the second largest city in
Arkansas and boasts an impressive array of
historic sites, museums, restaurants and
other attractions. Recently named as the
future home of the $24 million national
museum of the U.S. Marshals Service, Fort
Smith is emerging as a major center for
heritage tourism.
The city has one of the finest small airports in
the nation and is located on Interstate 40
between Little Rock and Oklahoma City. An
outstanding gateway for exploring the history
of the western frontier and the Ozarks and
Ouachita Mountains, Fort Smith is an
unforgettable destination.
| Historic Fort Smith, Arkansas The gateway to the Old West, Fort Smith offers an impressive array of historic sites. |
Home of the "Hanging Judge"
The Civil War in Arkansas
Numerous Civil War sites can
be found in and around Fort
Smith, including the Massard
Prairie Battlefield.
Numerous Civil War sites can
be found in and around Fort
Smith, including the Massard
Prairie Battlefield.
| Begin your Exploration of Fort Smith by following the links below: |
| Copyright 2008 by Dale Cox All rights reserved. |
The Battle of
Massard Prairie
Massard Prairie
by Dale Cox
The first full-length account of
the 1864 Confederate attack on
Fort Smith, Arkansas.
the 1864 Confederate attack on
Fort Smith, Arkansas.
$19.95
Proceeds benefit the Cane Hill Battlefield Driving Tour Project
