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Fort Smith National Historic SiteNewly sworn-in young American citizens and their families raise the huge garrison flag at the park.
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Fort Smith National Historic Site
Places at the Second Fort Smith (1838-1871)
 
interior of Commissary with exhibit showing containers used by army when the building was a food supply warehouse
Memories by Jody
Interior of Commissary

While only two buildings remain from the second fort, visitors can walk the old military grounds and see the outline of the stone wall as well as the location of some of the military buildings.

The exhibit in the Commissary gives a glimpse into the time period when the army used the building as a supply warehouse.  Food supplies were stored here and later transported to troops stationed further west.

 

 

100 foot garrison flag flies in middle of parade ground at second Fort Smith
Postcards of Second Fort Smith
Several postcards show views of what the fort looked like before 1870.
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detail of Commissary building with bare tree on left hand side
Commissary Postcards
The oldest building still standing in Fort Smith has had many uses.
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Interior of jail cell with box for prisoners to visit with their lawyers  

Did You Know?
The conditions at the federal jail at Fort Smith were so horrible that it received the nickname "Hell on the Border." Up to 50 men were crowded into one large cell with limited ventilation and poor sanitary conditions.

Last Updated: August 24, 2006 at 16:49 EST