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Fort Smith National Historic Sitedetail of postcard showing old fort with quartermaster building and powder magazine
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Fort Smith National Historic Site
Places at the First Fort Smith (1817-1824)
 
foundation remains of first fort, looking out across Arkansas River

Memories by Jody

Foundation Remains of First Fort

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The area overlooking the confluence of the Arkansas and Poteau Rivers had been named Belle Point by French fur trappers who traveled along the rivers in the 18th century.  When the U.S. Army decided to establish a fort near the Osage boundary at the Arkansas River, Belle Point was the site chosen by Major Stephen H. Long of the Topographical Engineers. Long accompanied Major Bradford and the U.S. Rifle Regiment when they arrived in 1817 and drew up construction plans for the fort. 

 
Bird's Eye View of the First Fort Smith.
Aerial photograph of the first Fort Smith.
boy fishing from rock landing next to Poteau River
Postcards of Poteau and Arkansas Rivers
Postcards showing views of the Arkansas and Poteau Rivers
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Portrait of Anna Dawes  

Did You Know?
A woman was responsible for the building of a modern federal jail at Fort Smith, AR, in 1888. Anna Dawes, daughter of Sen. Dawes of MA, visited the "Hell on the Border" jail in 1885 and wrote an article describing its conditions. When read in Congress, money was quickly approved for a new jail.

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Last Updated: July 15, 2009 at 13:41 EST