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Fort Smith National Historic Sitedetail of postcard showing people in front of courthouse building
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Fort Smith National Historic Site
Places at the Second Fort Smith (1838-1871)
 
interior of Commissary with exhibit showing containers used by army when the building was a food supply warehouse
Memories by Jody
Interior of Commissary

While only two buildings remain from the second fort, visitors can walk the old military grounds and see the outline of the stone wall as well as the location of some of the military buildings.

The exhibit in the Commissary gives a glimpse into the time period when the army used the building as a supply warehouse.  Food supplies were stored here and later transported to troops stationed further west.

 

 

100 foot garrison flag flies in middle of parade ground at second Fort Smith
Postcards of Second Fort Smith
Several postcards show views of what the fort looked like before 1870.
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detail of Commissary building with bare tree on left hand side
Commissary Postcards
The oldest building still standing in Fort Smith has had many uses.
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Park staff and volunteers demonstrating using lindstock and slowmatch to ignite the cannon's primer  

Did You Know?
The soldiers who came to Fort Smith in 1817 were still using some 18th century technology and drill. The cannon was discharged using a lindstock and slowmatch to ignite the primer, which originally was loose powder or a turkey quill filled with powder.

Last Updated: August 24, 2006 at 16:49 EST