On a recent trip to Northern Arkansas I visited the town of Fort Smith located at the Arkansas River which separates this state from Oklahoma. Our trip was memorable for me in many ways. Fort Smith is my birthplace and home to my Mother's family for years. My family left Arkansas for California over 50 years ago, so my only memory is a couple of visits to family members and hearing the many stories of family.
My trip was shared with wonderful friends. I'm sharing some of the sights we experienced.
Ft. Smith was the gateway to the West and the Oklahoma Territory. Our first stop was downtown Ft. Smith, the site of the original fort, the area is now a National Historical Park. Several buildings still remain today.
The site is also home to one of the areas infamous citizens, Federal Judge Isaac C. Parker. Judge Parker was known as the "hanging judge" he was appointed by President Ulysses S. Grant. Judge Parker. If you saw the old John Wayne movie True Grit may remember the opening scene of multiple hangings which took place in Ft. 
Smith. A replica of the gallows still appears today.
From there we headed over to the Fort Smith Trolley Museum for tickets to ride one of the original 1915 cable cars. While at the museum I took this photo of an old-time drug store, complete with a soda fountain. Print out the Trolley News here.
Cable cars provided transportation to the city of Ft. Smith from 1883 when they were pulled my mules then later powered by electricity. These cars ran until 1933 when they were eventually replaced by buses. Some of the original cable cars are in the process of being restored and run daily for visitors to the city.
If you're in the area of Western Arkansas, I'd encourage you to visit this interesting city. See more info here at the Fort Smith Historical Society.
And if you're in Southern California and need help in real estate, contact me. Lynda Eisenmann, Preferred Home Brokers.
714 595-1494 Direct
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