Fort Smith

Fort Smith sits where the Poteau River meets the Arkansas River, forming a commercial hub with factories, warehouses, and business districts along both riverbanks. The settlement spreads across hilly terrain between the floodplains and the wooded slopes of the Ouachita Mountains to the north.

The settlement began in 1817 as a border post between Cherokee territory and white settlements, meant to prevent conflict and monitor trade. After the Civil War, it became a judicial district for Indian Territory and grew into the second-largest city in Arkansas through rail connections and coal mining.

The name comes from the original military post, which remains visible today through original buildings and reconstructions at several sites. Visitors can walk through restored barracks and along the old fortifications, where panels explain the life of soldiers and settlers.

The airport terminal is about 6 miles (10 km) southeast of downtown, with several daily connections to larger hubs. Drivers reach the area via Interstate 40, which runs east-west through the southern part, and several highways from all directions.

The courthouse along the riverfront was one of the few courts with jurisdiction over the entire Indian Territory west of Arkansas. The gallows behind the building could hold up to twelve people at once and still stands today as part of the museum grounds.