Tuesday, October 11, 2011

October 9, 2011

Fort Smith and Arkansas Ozarks

Back to our original planned route today.  West on a back road (pretty and rural).  Then south on a freeway (we screwed up – there is a scenic alternate but we missed the turn).  Even the freeway was scenic and pretty much rural.  Winding through the hills with no buildings or frontage roads to spoil the view. 

Tourist stop for the day – Fort Smith.  This is now a city but it is the site of Fort Smith which was the major protection and supply center for administering the Indian Territories (later to become Oklahoma).  It was also the primary center for administering justice for crimes committed in the territories. 

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Parade ground.  Building is enlisted mens’ barracks – now visitor Center and Museum.

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Gallows. Plenty of room.

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Full length trap door of gallows.

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Arkansas River.  Fort Smith sat on bluff above river.

We spent an hour at the  fort site touring the visitor center and the grounds and then headed east again.  We are now in a nice little Corps of Engineers campground on the bank of the Arkansas River. (The Arkansas River is fairly straight but we seem to be crossing it often even with our back and forth route.)



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