Parke, frank born july 11, 1829 in county leitrim, ireland, he came to america in 1849, settling first in ohio then in fort smith in 1853. In fact, you probably have no idea where fort smith, arkansas is located unless you grew up in the vicinity of this city or in the natural state. Freiseis, the brewer who took over knobles brewery in fort smith. With everything arkansas railroads have to offer, from short lines to. Free shipping and more for millionaires club members. This arkansas state page of our website provides direct links to major databases and historical titles and information found on arkansas genealogy and history, whether they exist on our site, or across the web. You can learn more here about the history of arkansas railroads here, the classic lines. A history of the white river division of the missouri pacific railroad. Take a ride on the arkansas and missouri railroad and explore arkansas in a totally unique way. Scenic train rides in arkansas scenic rail excursions. Recognized as a, top ten true western town, by true west magazine, fort smith has. It stretched roughly 40 miles along a circuitous route between paris and dardanelle, via subiaco and scranton. Fort smith, county seat of sebastian county, is located at the junction of the arkansas and poteau rivers. Goldsmith also read newspaper reports of a white beer being produced in 1872 by j.
Texarkana and fort smith railway the authority on texas history. Parke, frank born july 11, 1829 in county leitrim, ireland, he came to america in 1849, settling first. Explore life on the edge of indian territory through the stories of soldiers, the trail of tears, dangerous outlaws. Thomas smith, the fort prompted settlement and the resultant town shared the forts.
Long selected a site at the confluence of the arkansas and poteau rivers as the location for the regions first military fort. May lecta sweet historic district, fort smith, ar real estate. Historic attractions experience fort smith arkansas. Enjoy train tours and sightseeing activities in fort smith, arkansas. Exploring the hidden history of fort smith arkansas.
The fort smith railroad reporting mark fsr is a class iii shortline railroad headquartered in fort smith, arkansas fsr operates an 18 miles 29 km line in arkansas from fort smith where it interchanges with kansas city southern railway, union pacific railroad, and arkansas and missouri railroad to fort chaffee. According to tom wing, assistant professor of history at the university of arkansasfort smith and director of the drennenscott historic site in his book images of america. Fort smith railroad co 22 n b st fort smith, ar railroads. Whipple set out for california from fort smith, arkansas. Maps showing the connections of the little rock and fort. Fsr makes connections with the kcs and am at fort smith, ar. The history of the fort smith area abounds with tales of heroism, battles, and social justice. There are many individuals who made history at fort smith, and their actions and attitudes can serve both as inspiration and lessons learned. Walk where soldiers drilled, reflect along the trail of tears overlook, and stand where justice was served and carried out. Fort smith railroad, kiamichi railroad, little rock port authority railroad. It is hoped that web access will encourage a greater exchange of information among those who share this interest. The sightings drew the attention of project blue book, a project developed by the united states air force to investigate the ufo phenomenon. Fsr operates freight service from a connection with up at fort smith, ar to fort chaffee, ar 18 miles. Pratt, who was killed by a nonmormon who wanted pratts wife for himself.
Witness 200 years of history come back to life through stories and reenactments of outlaws, lawmen, soldiers, native americans and other historical figures that played an important role in the development of fort smith s unique history. A turbulent look at van burenfort smiths wild connection. Arkansas train rides may not offer the glitz of the strasburg railroad or glamour of the grand canyon railway. Cities have been established, resources get transported, and families will. The book skillfully places the expedition in its historical context, including. If you ever lived in fort smith, arkansas facebook pictures. The fort smith streetcar restoration association is dedicated to the preservation and appreciation of electric powered streetcars, railroad equipment, transportation and other technology that existed during this period in history, and to providing a unique educational experience to the visiting public. The little rock and fort smith railroad was a railroad that operated in the state of arkansas between 1853 and 1875. However, according to the book, the governors of arkansas edited by. Thomas smith, the fort prompted settlement and the resultant town shared the fort s. Construction of this line began on march 20, 1869, on the north side of the arkansas river. Railroad maps, 1828 to 1900, available online, arkansas library of. In fort smith, visitors are able to relive 200 years of history, explore a diverse natural landscape, and discover modern attractions and amenities inside of americas original gateway to the wild west. This site is maintained by the arkansas boston mountains chapter of the national railway historical society located in springdale, arkansas home of the arkansas scrambler for questions, email arkyrail at.
Jun, 2016 the history of fort smith arkansas may not be something that you are immediately familiar with. Miss lauras visitor center fort smith 2020 all you need. In that year the company built an additional ten miles from the red river to ashdown, arkansas, and completed another six miles to wilton, arkansas, in 1892. Book tour tickets online and save or call us toll free for assistance with reservations, group tour bookings, and private charter services. Mar 04, 2012 hidden history of fort smith, arkansas is 125 pages of interesting bits of local history primarily from the late 19th to the early 20th century but also includes some contemporary items and goes all the way back to the founding of the fort. Feb 22, 2015 this railway line started out as the parissubiaco traction company in 1908, renamed to the fort smith, subiaco and eastern railroad in 1909, and finally the fort smith, subiaco and rock island railroad by 1919. The beer was released saturday at the brewery in chaffee crossing. Eakles hille will have another railroadiana sale at his home 224 dennison, following his sale of last november. The railroad depots that survive from this golden age of arkansass railroad development, 1870 to 1940, represent important physical reminders of this pivotal period in the states transportation history, and as such are deserving of recognition and preservation as endangered and. The western district play reveals dirt on corrupt court in. You can still enjoy the leisurely elegance of real train travel through the mountains and valleys of northwest arkansas. Parkers jurisdiction over indian territory in 1896, fort smith national historic site preserves almost 80 years of history. Some of the stories are rewritten from the inquire within column which the newspaper gave him. While in the fort smith job, he took up an offer to instruct the students in the first fort smith public school in arithmetic and higher mathematics, a position he held until 1871.
The history of fort smith arkansas may not be something that you are immediately familiar with. This dreamy trainthemed trip through arkansas will take you on the journey of a lifetime. Additional web pages will be added as research and time permits. The blue book report on the incident noted that as many as 1,500 people witnessed fort smiths ufo. Fort smith tours enjoy the sights in fort smith fort. In that year the company built an additional ten miles from the red river to ashdown, arkansas, and completed another. The entire site is very well done, including a walking tour down by the rivers confluence of arkansas and canadian which describes both the trail of tears and white settlement eras of the area. This railway line started out as the parissubiaco traction company in 1908, renamed to the fort smith, subiaco and eastern railroad in 1909, and finally the fort smith, subiaco and rock island railroad by 1919. The little rock and fort smith railroad was in financial difficulty.
Smith area railroads history timeline compiled by mike. This is an ongoing project to identify and document significant historical markers in the evolution of ft. Railroad historical information for all railroads operating through arkansas or contiguous states. Check out may lecta sweet historic district real estate listings in fort smith, ar. Slave narratives are stories of surviving slaves told in their own words and ways. The city lies west of van buren on the oklahoma border fort smith was established as a military outpost to patrol the neighboring indian territory in 1817 and was named after general thomas smith. The railroad depots that survive from this golden age of arkansas s railroad development, 1870 to 1940, represent important physical reminders of this pivotal period in the states transportation history, and as such are deserving of recognition and preservation as endangered and.
Announcing the index arkansas project funded by the happy hollow foundation of fayetteville. Hidden history of fort smith, arkansas is 125 pages of interesting bits of local history primarily from the late 19th to the early 20th century but also includes some contemporary items and goes all the way back to the founding of the fort. Down the iron mountain route missouri pacific historical. Little italy was founded on december 23rd, 1915 by a group of italian immigrants who had originally settled in chicago and northern michigan during the early part of the 20th century. It sits on the central western border of oklahoma, right on the edge of indian territory. Summary detailed county map showing relief by hachures, drainage, township and range lines, cities and towns, roads, and railroads. Fort smith museum of history 320 rogers ave, fort smith, arkansas 72901 rated 4. A place for those who enjoy arkansas railroad history to share and discuss information about arkansas.
The fort smith, subiaco and rock island railroad abandoned. Little italy was the last catholic immigrant colony in arkansas and is situated in eastern perry county near little rock. This trainthemed road trip through arkansas is just what you. The goal of the arkansas railroad history website is to preserve regional railroad history through a digital, webbased format. This two year project is intended to help update the online index of journals, bulletins and historical resources. Little rock and fort smith railroad encyclopedia of arkansas. Van buren 2016, arcadia publishing, the railroads came in the 1870s. One of the coolest places i have ever been,its take you back to the 1840s and the history of the wild west and the courtroom of judge parker. Climb aboard a turnofthecentury railroad passenger car in fort smith, arkansas, for an exciting day trip through the mighty arkansas river valley and the majestic boston and ozark mountains of northwest arkansas. Located along the heart of the i40 corridor about halfway between little rock and oklahoma city, fort smith is an iconic location in arkansas history and today plays an integral role in highlighting the frontier dating back to the early 19th century. Fsr operates an 18 miles 29 km line in arkansas from fort smith where it. On april 12, 1869, what had been known as the fort smith branch of the cairo and fulton railroad had its charter renewed and became known as the little rock and fort smith railroad. Arkansas locations with photographs covered in the book.
The frisco railroad bridge was not completed until 1885. With an estimated population of 87,845 in 2018, it is the principal city of the fort smith, arkansas oklahoma metropolitan statistical area, a region of 298,592 residents that encompasses the arkansas counties of crawford, franklin, and. With everything arkansas railroads have to offer, from short lines to class is, a trip to see the natural state is well worth it. The rails have remained an integral part of arkansas industry throughout the states history.
The fort smith national historic site includes the remains of two frontier forts and the federal court for the western district of arkansas. Am provides haulage of up traffic between fort smith and van buren. Fort smith was the town in the book movie true grit. The fort smith railroad reporting mark fsr is a class iii shortline railroad headquartered in fort smith, arkansas. About 16 miles from here, in alma, there is a mormon monument to parley p. Fort smith is actually a real town in arkansas i live here. The arkansas railroad club no longer has a publication.
Witness 200 years of history come back to life through stories and reenactments of outlaws, lawmen, soldiers, native americans and other historical figures that played an important role in the development of fort smiths unique history. From the establishment of the first fort smith on december 25, 1817, to the final days of judge isaac c. Maps showing the connections of the little rock and fort smith railroad and its land grant. Fort smith national historic site 2020 all you need to know. Feb 17, 2020 according to tom wing, assistant professor of history at the university of arkansasfort smith and director of the drennenscott historic site in his book images of america.