Group Activities
Sample Fort Smith Attractions/Museums
Miss Laura's Visitors Center
- Tour the famous former bordello that now serves as the city's official Visitors Center. With prior arrangements, "Miss Laura" will greet your group in costume and give your group a colorful and lively personalized tour herself.
Fort Smith National Historic Site - Tour "Hangin' Judge" Isaac C. Parker's Courtroom, step inside the old jail known as "Hell on the Border" and see the gallows where 86 men met their fate at the end of a rope, 79 of whom were sentenced by Judge Parker himself. Learn about the Trail of Tears, the U.S. Marshals and other amazing stories of early frontier life from this pivotal point on the United States' path to westward expansion.
Fort Smith Museum of History - See exhibits of early Fort Smith days in this 100-year-old museum, then enjoy an old-fashioned soda, float or sundae from the 1920s-era Drug Store Soda Fountain.
Darby Home - Tour the boyhood home of General William O. Darby, famed leader of the Darby's Rangers in World War II. Darby's Rangers went on to become the modern Army Rangers.
The Clayton House
- Tour the lovely, preserved Victorian home of William Henry Harrison Clayton, Prosecuting Attorney for Judge Isaac C. Parker.
Immaculate Conception or First Lutheran Church
- Guided tour of one of our oldest churches; learn the history of the church and beautiful stained glass windows from a member of the church.
St. Scholastica Monastery - Tour this peaceful monastery with a guide and learn about its long and interesting history. See beautiful paintings that line the hallways and visit the indoor pool constructed in 1924.
The Chaffee Barbershop Museum - Learn the history of Fort Chaffee, built in 1941, and which served as training fort for World War II and Korean Wars, held German prisoners of war, and later served as the primary processing facility for thousands of Vietnamese and Cuban refugees coming to America. The Chaffee Barbershop is where the new soldiers got their initial "buzz cuts." One of these soldiers attracted more than the usual amount of attention for his first Army haircut here - one Elvis Presley. On March 25, 1958, the eyes of the world were on this barbershop when Elvis was inducted into the U.S. Army and got his famous haircut that made front page headlines across the globe.
The Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center
- Open since 2006, this new 14,000-square-foot nature center sits on 170 acres of pristine Arkansas River Valley land, preserved as an area to protect and promote The Natural State's diversity of flora and fauna in this region. Tour the center's many interactive exhibits, attend a special class or lecture, or get your group involved in the dozens of completely free activities the center offers, from kayaking, canoeing and fishing on Wells Lake, to taking guided nature hikes over the beautiful surrounding acreage. Wear comfortable shoes and take a camera to capture the natural beauty.
Other Entertainment & Activities for Groups:
Dinner Theater -
Miss Laura's Players present "The Medicine Show on Hangin' Day," a light-hearted original musical/comedy set in Fort Smith 100 years ago during the days of Belle Starr and Judge Parker, and other infamous local characters.
(Note: presented for groups only, by prior arrangement.)
Trial re-enactment in Judge Parker's Courtroom - Twelve members of your group are the jury, while the rest of the group watches from the gallery as Fort Smith National Historic Site staff and volunteers re-enact a famous trial from Judge Parker's court, such as the United States of America v.
Cherokee Bill.
Victorian High Tea at the Clayton House - Enjoy high tea, with all the elegance of the Victorian era, at this landmark Fort Smith home. Receive a tour of the home and learn the stories of its furnishings, artifacts, and fascinating history.
Electric Trolley rides through Historic Downtown Fort Smith - A genuine, restored 1926 electric streetcar carries passengers on half-mile runs between Fort Smith's historic Garrison Avenue and the National Cemetery, bringing back memories for some and new thrills for others. Afterwards, tour the Fort Smith Trolley Museum's collection of railroad passenger cars, engines, antique buses and other transportation memorabilia.
A & M Scenic Railway Excursion - Climb aboard a turn-of-the century railroad passenger car for an exciting day trip through the scenic Ozark Mountains. Ride over Ozark streams, picturesque trestles and through a mountain tunnel.
For more information and help planning your group tour,
contact Carolyn Joyce, Tour and Travel Sales Director, by
e-mail or at 479-783-8888.