Blog

Fort Smith, Arkansas, is full of charming shops, including several local stores where you can browse for collectibles and antiques. Check out these five options and enjoy shopping for new and unique vintage pieces for your home or wardrobe. Belle Starr Antiques Belle Starr Antiques is one of the highest rated antique malls in Fort Smith. The large building is home to thousands of items, making it a great choice for people who want to spend several hours diving into displays of decades-old furniture, well-preserved boots and clothes, stunning period pieces, collectibles, and more. more The 9,000-square-foot inventory space is at 410 N. B St. Belle Starr Antiques is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sundays from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Remember When Antique Mall With a name showing that the shop knows its business, Remember When Antique Mall is a location that will overwhelm you with nostalgia. This well-reviewed mall is known for housing lots of antiques in a smaller space, making it another excellent choice if you want to spend an entire afternoon browsing. You'll find furniture, decorative items and memorabilia, kitchenware, clothing, and much more. Find Remember When Antique Mall at 4407 Burrough Road. The shop is open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. Crossroads Antique Mall For a cozier shop where you can enjoy rolling up your sleeves and searching for a good find, try Crossroads Antique Mall. This location houses lots of smaller items, including books, collectibles, clothes, hats, and vintage signs, as well as larger pieces and furniture. Crossroads Antique Mall is at 3325 S. 74th St. It's closed Sunday but is otherwise open daily starting at 10 a.m. The mall closes at 6:30 p.m. every day except Friday when it closes at 5 p.m. Through the Years Antique Mall Another aptly named store in Fort Smith, Through the Years Antique Mall houses a large collection of books, furniture, jewelry, and those kitschy antiques that are fun to find and even better to take home. The shop is well-reviewed thanks to its competitive prices, a wide variety of items, and one-of-a-kind finds. Visit Through the Years Antique Mall at 2119 Rogers Ave. This popular location is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except Sunday, when it's closed. Treasures at Century Plaza This charming antique business is popular among shoppers who want to explore shelves full of smaller collectibles and vintage pieces. You'll find several dolls and lots of memorabilia as well as interesting paintings, signs, and other decorations. Treasures At Century Plaza is off Interstate 540 at 3702 Century Drive. It's open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. On Sunday, the shop is open from 1 to 5 p.m. What do you think you'll find at these stores in Fort Smith? Whether you're after furniture, clothes, or jewelry or simply want to browse unique items that have withstood the test of time, these five shops in the city are worth checking out. Photo by TexasExplorer98 | Licensed under cc BY 2.0

Museums continue to be one of the best sources of information on a range of different subjects. While history and science are common subjects for museums, you can find museums dedicated to just about anything. In the Fort Smith area, there are high-quality museums that are worth checking out. Here is a look at museums you won't want to miss in Fort Smith. The Clayton House One of the first places that you will want to visit is the Clayton House. It is located at 514 North 6th Street in the Belle Grove Historic District. The Clayton House was preserved and turned into a museum to capture what life and architecture were like in the Victorian period. The interior has been restored to its original look with the only changes being hidden safety improvements. You can tour the house and see what it was like to live in the late 1800s. more Aside from being a museum, the Clayton House is also an event space. It is perfect for weddings and other formal events. The grounds are still populated with well-manicured grass and tall shady trees. It makes for a good spot for your guest during any event. Fort Smith Museum of History Another place that you will want to check out is the Fort Smith Museum of History. The museum was established in 1910 to preserve as much of the history of the area as possible. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places and continues to keep its interior designs from the time period. Inside the museum, you'll find a collection of artifacts from the late 1800's through the 1900's. You'll also find a replica soda fountain where you can try many foods from the time period. It follows the same design as a 1920s pharmacy and soda fountain. You can try ice creams, sundaes, floats, and sodas that were popular during that time. Fort Smith Trolley Museum The Fort Smith Trolley Museum is another stop that should be on your list if you are a history buff. The museum is dedicated to preserving the history of the trolley cars that used to run through the city. The museum managed to preserve several of the original streetcars and has them on display for you to ride in and experience for yourself. The ride tokens are moderately priced at $4 per adult and $2 per child. Taking a ride a great way to get out and experience a piece of history for yourself rather than just seeing it in a museum. Traveling to museums is a fun way to spend your time off, especially in the summer when the weather is great. You can make it a weekly weekend trip or a big summer vacation to visit as many museums as possible. Either way, you'll need a car that can get you there and back safely. Rath Auto Resources can help you find a car that is not only reliable but will also make your trip more comfortable. Photo by US Department of State | Licensed under cc BY-SA 2.0

There's nothing quite like immersing yourself in history, and with over 200 years of fascinating stories to draw from, Fort Smith is the perfect place to soak up a little culture. Whether you're visiting one of the historical centers or watching a reenactment of soldiers, lawmen, outlaws, or Native Americans, it's easy and fun to learn about Fort Smith's fascinating history. From taking a tour of the visitor center at Miss Laura's, formerly a genuine Old West bordello, to acquainting yourself with the military history of the area at the museum, or retracing the footsteps of Fort Smith's notorious Deputy U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves as he hunts down outlaws and brings justice to Fort Smith, there's plenty to choose from. more Fort Smith is one of the best areas in Arkansas to not only learn about history but live it. Here are the top 7 must-see historical stops in the area. Miss Laura's Visitor Center At Miss Laura's Social Club you will find a glimpse of the history of Fort Smith's downtown area, right on the banks of the Arkansas River. Around the turn of the century, this area featured seven 'row houses' which functioned as the Fort Smith red light district. Of those seven brothels, only Miss Laura's remains. A former bordello with the distinction of being the only house of ill repute to make it onto the National Register of Historic Places, Laura's has been restored to all its original splendor, and it's well worth a visit. Fort Smith Air Museum With sixty-four displays showcasing and honoring the military aviators who pioneered air travel in Fort Smith and the surrounding areas of eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas, the Fort Smith Air Museum is a great place to visit. Recently relocated to the new Regional Airport Terminal, it's an inspiring little piece of history. The Clayton House Step back in time to the year 1882 at Clayton House. It was the year William Henry Harrison Clayton and his family moved into a grand antebellum home, which he transformed into a masterpiece of Italianate style double the original size. The house is located in the Belle Grove Historic District. With period furnishing and coal burning fires, it's a cozy glimpse of life at the end of the 19th century. Temple Live Temple Live is a Masonic Temple of over 53,000 square feet, opened in 1929. A four-story building of Bedford Stone, it's an unusual, beautifully restored architectural feature of Fort Smith that's worth a look. Zachary Taylor Chimney The private home of President Zachary Taylor can be found on the grounds of what is now St. Anne's Academy and the Immaculate Conception Church. Taylor was the commander of Fort Smith's military garrison during the 1940s, and his former home is an interesting glimpse of the life of one of the Presidents of the United States. With so much history in the area Fort Smith is steeped in culture and there's plenty to learn and see. Photo by p_a_h | Licensed under cc BY 2.0

Fort Smith is a national historic site located in Arkansas. It was established on Christmas Day in 1817 and has a long and fascinating history. In this area, you can explore the Fort Smith Museum of History or the trolley museum to learn more about how it came to be and what purpose it served, or you can walk around the grounds on your own. National Historic Site At the Fort Smith National Historic Site, you can learn quite a bit about the purpose of the fort and how it came to be. If you don't have a lot of time to spend at the site, make sure to take a walk through the building, which houses Judge Parker's famous courtroom and two jails. more It's also worth walking along the Trail of Tears and viewing the exhibits on the U.S. Deputy Marshals within the museum. Fort Smith also had its own gallows, which are still there. If you have a few hours to explore, go on a tour led by park rangers, who know a lot about the history and can give insights that you wouldn't otherwise get on a personal tour. For those visiting with kids, stop by the ranger station to get a fun and educational workbook. By completing activities within the workbook, children can earn their Junior Ranger badges. Other things to see include the Commissary Storehouse, which is the oldest building in Fort Smith, the Trail of Tears overlook, and the first Fort Smith site at Belle Point. Fort Smith Museum of History At the Fort Smith Museum of History, visitors will learn more about the culture and history of the surrounding region. It opened its doors more than a century ago in 1910, showcasing exhibits contributed by local residents that offer a glimpse into the economic, political, and cultural development of Fort Smith. The museum sits in the old Atkinson-Williams Warehouse, a building dating back to 1906 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Be sure to enjoy an old-fashioned treat at the soda fountain within the museum or pick up some locally produced baskets, pottery, and art pieces at the museum gift shop. Trolley Museum The Fort Smith Streetcar Restoration Association operates the Fort Smith Trolley Museum as a way to preserve the electric-powered streetcars and other transportation technology that existed during this period of history. When you visit this spot, you can learn about the early history of trolleys and their impact on transportation in Fort Smith and across the nation. Exhibits include historic streetcars, trolleys, and other types of transportation equipment, giving you a glimpse into how far we've come in the ways we get around. The collection includes four of the original 58 Fort Smith streetcars: numbers 10, 205, 221, and 224. Whether you're a local or planning a visit to the area, make sure to carve out some time to enjoy everything Fort Smith has to offer. It's a historic and fascinating place, making it a must-see for many history buffs. Photo by Brook-Ward | Licensed under cc by 2.0