2012-05-24 Fort Smith AR

Learning that finding a place to stay during holidays takes a little preparation

We found a spot at this Springhill COE park outside of Fort Smith AR

to spend Memorial day weekend

The Arkansas River is very wide here and was very slow except 

when the locks were opened to pass barge traffic

We visited the site of the historic fort

This was an important fort during the Civil war and 

was occupied at times by both Union and Confederate forces

The main building is restored to Civil War times

The long section on the right was the Federal stockade used to house

unruly soldiers while the left section was the area courthouse 

and headquarters for Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma

This building was both the commissary and jail for the local residents

This prison wagon was driven by the most hardened

guards of the day - most prison breaks occurred during transportation

Although it was closed to the public while we were here

There were many hanging here during the Civil War

Tomorrow we depart 

One more stop in Carthage Mo on our way to 

see the kids and grandkids in KC