Fort Smith National Historic Site
National Historic Site · AR, OK
Explore life on the edge of frontier and Indian Territory through the stories of soldiers, the Trail of Tears, scandals, outlaws, and lawmen who pursued them. From the establishment of the first Fort Smith on December 25, 1817, to the final days of Judge Isaac C. Parker's jurisdiction over Indian Territory in 1896, Fort Smith National Historic Site preserves almost 80 years of history.
- NPS site
- nps.gov/fosm
- Location
- Fort Smith National Historic Site (35.388, -94.431)
Track your visit to Fort Smith National Historic Site
NP Tracker keeps a record of every National Park Service unit you visit — all 430-plus of them. Log visits with dates and photos, collect passport stamps, plan trips, and watch your map fill in. It's free.
Passport stamp locations
- Fort Smith National Historic Site
- Visitor Center, Gallows, and Commissary
Hours
Park Grounds and Trailstoday: Sunrise - 11:00PM
- Sat Oct 3Sunrise - 11:00PM
- Sun Oct 4Sunrise - 11:00PM
- Mon Oct 5Sunrise - 11:00PM
- Tue Oct 6Sunrise - 11:00PM
- Wed Oct 7Sunrise - 11:00PM
- Thu Oct 8Sunrise - 11:00PM
- Fri Oct 9Sunrise - 11:00PM
The Gallows and Commissary are open during Visitor Center hours, which may vary by season. Please check Visitor Center Hours for more information. Park grounds are open daily from 30 minutes before sunrise until 11:00 pm.
Hours are retrieved from the National Park Service and can change without notice — check the official site before you go.
Visitor centers
1
- Visitor Center, Gallows, and Commissarytoday: 9:00AM - 5:00PMDirections
Self-guided tours
2
First Fort Smith30–60 minutes · 7 stops
Discover the history of the first Fort Smith and the challenges faced by the soldiers who established it. The first fort site is located roughly 300 yards west of the visitor center at Belle Point, overlooking the Arkansas and Poteau Rivers. Take a moment to read the wayside panels and tap “Explore This Location” for more information at each stop.
Fort Smith During the Civil War45–90 minutes · 8 stops
Discover the role Fort Smith played during the Civil War. Each stop will have a question to encourage conversations while on the tour.
Entrance fees
No entrance fee.