Fort Smith, Arkansas, dates back over 200 years, and its long history is a unique one. Fortunately for history buffs, and for those who just enjoy a good story, there are plenty of attractions around the area that tell the stories of the soldiers, outlaws, and the Native Americans that shaped Fort Smith. Here are some of the quirkiest historic sites to see.
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Miss Laura’s Visitors Center
The Visitor Center in Fort Smith sits in the historic downtown area and in one of the row houses that lined what was once the Old West red light district. The former bordello is the only home that still stands and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Back in 1898, Laura Ziegler bought the house, and in 1898 opened it as a brothel. Her business became one of the most sophisticated bordellos in the Southwest.
You can now stop in the visitor center and take a tour of the Victorian mansion and even see some of the clothing that the women wore while working as prostitutes.
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Chaffee Barbershop Museum
It doesn’t look like much from the outside but as soon as you step inside the Chaffee Barbershop Museum to see where Elvis Presley got his first buzz cut before joining the Army. The cut took place on March 25, 1958, and the museum celebrates on that day every year. The barbershop was restored to look just like it did when Elvis stopped in for his cut including authentic items from the 50s and photographs of Elvis. The museum sits in a barrack-style building in the Camp Chaffee Tank Destroyer Battalion Historic District and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
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Fort Smith Trolley Museum
Stop by the Fort Smith Trolley Museum to ride on a 1926 electric Birney Streetcar. This ride carries its passengers along a three-quarter mile stretch of track that runs between Garrison Avenue and the National Cemetery. The museum also has a unique collection of rail cars to see, and there is a western themed village just outside. The museum also hosts a re-enactment of a Wild West Shootout, and a Robbing of the Fort Smith Trolley performed by The Indian Territory Pistoliers.
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Oak Cemetery & Sexton House Museum
Oak Cemetery features the oldest monument in Fort Smith. The statue, which dates back to 1842, is the marker for Captain Gookin’s grave. Gookin was one of the earliest settlers of Fort Smith and one of the first schoolteachers. This cemetery is also a resting place for outlaws hanged by Judge Issac C. Parker and for other outlaws who were sentenced to hang but died while waiting in jail. The museum in the Sexton House has pictures and artifacts, and there is also a multimedia center with videos to watch about Fort Smith’s history.
These landmarks and historic sites tell the story of this city’s unique and colorful history. Start your day at the visitor’s center to see the former bordello and then make your way through the other sites for an unforgettable experience.
Photo by exit78 | Licensed under Public Domain Mark 1.0
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