Fort Smith National Historic Site

After leaving Carlsbad New Mexico we had several days of driving with a couple stops in the middle of the day to see things. The first day of driving got us to very hot and humid Abilene Texas where we just stopped for the night. We continued the next day to another sleep-only stop in Thackerville Oklahoma. The next day had a mid-day stop at the Oklahoma State Capitol for a tour.

Oklahoma Capitol - oil rig in front

We had done our research on the Capitol and knew there was restoration work going on but we decided to check it out anyway. It turns out the entire building, inside and out, was being worked on. Scaffolding and plastic covered a lot of the outside of the building and on the inside you could walk around, but there were a lot of workers (except the House and Senate Chambers) and construction areas. From what we saw, it wasn't all that interesting of a building on the inside anyway so we aren't sure if we'll come back in four years for another look when the work is done.

Entering rotunda of Capitol

The next day we also had a mid-route stop but this time it was for Fort Smith National Historic Site in Fort Smith Arkansas. Fort Smith basically had three lives. It was first built in 1817 to keep peace in the Arkansas River Valley between the native Osage and newly arriving Cherokee. This small fort was made of logs and stone at Belle Point. After only 5 years, it was abandoned and the fort rotted leaving only stone foundations. The second Fort Smith was built in 1838 due to an unfounded fear of Indian attack. It ended up just becoming an important supply depot for westward migration.

Fort Smith - Visitor Center
Was Barracks-Courthouse-Jail

Fort Smith Commissary 

The military permanently closed the fort in 1871 but left behind a thriving community which began life number three for the fort. The military barracks became a courthouse and a jail and the commissary was converted into living quarters. The courthouse was used by the famous Judge Isaac Parker, aka the hanging judge, before a new courthouse was built.

The National Park Service really did a great job, as usual, on this historic site. The building restoration was superb and the displays in the visitor center were comprehensive and very well done. Only two buildings and gallows remain but foundations for buildings from both forts are clearly marked and described.

Oklahoma State Capitol Senate
Chamber

Fort Smith Gallows

Oklahoma State Capitol 

Oklahoma State Capitol House
Chamber