The Wild West in a South Central State

In this installment of ‘History Off the Beaten Path,’ we see how Judge Issac Parker brought justice to Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Fort Smith Historic Site in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Judge Isaac Parker's rulings helped clean up the town. Fort Smith National Historic Site

One can drive for miles and hours through some midwestern and western states without experiencing much more than vast prairies and plains. A stop at the National Historic Site of Fort Smith, Arkansas, serves as a refreshing and interesting distraction. While returning to North Carolina from Utah in early April, I stopped at the fort. It’s located just over the Oklahoma state line, at the confluence of the Arkansas and Poteau rivers.

At this living History Site, with preserved early 19th-century structures, manicured grounds, and a museum, focus is on one man, Judge Issac Parker, who exuded bravery, righteousness, and steadfastness in a violent and chaotic town where criminals once ruled.

First, About Fort Smith

Thanks to a knowledgeable docent and educational signage, I learned that fortifications like Fort Smith were plentiful in 18th- and 19th-century America for a number of reasons: Conflicts existed among Native Americans and settlers, a war broke out between the United States and Mexico, a gold rush drew hordes of people, and the Civil War divided states. Thus, forts necessitated the housing of troops, gathering of provisions, and storing of ammunition.