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There was a time when Western Arkansas was the edge of the American map, a place of shifting boundaries between U.S. settlements and Indian Territory. Built as a literal frontier fort, Fort Smith became a crossroads for soldiers, lawmen, merchants and settlers heading west. Many legends were born in this transitional era of Arkansas and American history, from famous lawmen like Bass Reeves, to the swift frontier justice of Hanging Judge Parker. Experience the area's rich history on display in Western Arkansas' museums and historic districts.
One of Fort Smith's premiere attractions, the recently opened U.S. Marshals Museum is the official museum of America's oldest federal law enforcement agency. Visitors can see exhibits covering notorious outlaws, frontier-era manhunts and the ever-changing tactics of lawmen from frontier times through today. Don't miss the museum's spotlight on Bass Reeves, a legendary lawman whose adventures became a TV show, and who was the first black deputy U.S. Marshal west of the Mississippi. Plan to spend at least half a day to get the most of this impressive museum.
In its early days, Western Arkansas was a severe and often violent place, sometimes on both sides of the law. The Fort Smith National Historic Site portrays this tense but transformative period in America's history, as well as the major figures involved. On this site, the controversial "Hanging Judge Parker" presided over thousands of cases from the federal bench, handing out 160 death sentences during his long tenure. The site preserves more than 80 years of Arkansas' frontier history.
Even during the frontier upheaval, settlers continued laying down roots in Western Arkansas, and some of the beautiful homes they built are still preserved today. More than 20 of these Victorian homes can be seen today in Fort Smith's Belle Grove Historic District. The Clayton House built in 1882 is one of the best examples to be found. Miss Laura's Brothel Museum in Fort Smith is another colorful spot to see Victorian architecture and the best gossip from the era.
Go beyond the frontier and see a more recent phase of Western Arkansas history at Chaffee Crossing Historic District. Best known in pop culture as the place where Elvis got his first military haircut in 1958, called "the haircut heard round the world," the district was first a WWII training site. Later, Camp Chaffee would transform from a refugee-process site and much later a historic district of museums. Nearby Fort Chaffee continues to this day as a training ground for the U.S. military. Visit fun and accessible museums and see exhibits depicting every phase of Western Arkansas history.
The frontier history of Western Arkansas isn't limited to Fort Smith. All around the area you'll find local museums preserving artifacts, photographs and oral histories of the region. Markers commemorate significant moments in area history like the Trail of Tears path, Civil War battlefields and civil rights events. There are also more light-hearted stops like the Old Jail Museum in Greenwood and the Mena Historic District. Explorers will be rewarded with unique stories and a deeper understanding of Western Arkansas history.