Fort Smith Then and Now

The fort has changed a lot over time.

Below is a collection of historic and modern photos taken from roughly the same location.

Move the sliders left and right - how many differences can you spot?

We will list our answers at the bottom of the page.

Fort Buildings

Left image

Fort Smith from the northeast corner circa 1897

Credit: NPS

Right image

Fort Smith from the northeast corner circa 2015

Credit: NPS

Civil War

Left image

During the Civil War, soldiers had to "camp" on the parade ground because there was not enough room in the barracks building.

Credit: NPS

Right image

Parade ground circa 2015

Credit: NPS

Guardhouse

Left image

View from the second floor of the Officers' Quarters looking northeast, circa 1867.

Credit: NPS

Right image

View looking towards the guardhouse gazebo and Pendergraft park, circa 2014.

Credit: NPS

Gallows

Left image

Only known photo of the gallows, circa 1890.

Credit: NPS

Right image

The gallows, circa 2014.

Credit: NPS

Answers

All differences listed are referencing the historic photo.

Fort Buildings

The guardhouse, officers’ quarters, and quartermaster buildings are still standing.

The barracks building, now the courthouse and visitor center, has only one story.

The fort wall is still standing.

The flagpole looks shorter.

Civil War

• Tents on the parade ground.
• The officers’ quarters building is still standing.
• The second jail is not there - it wasn't built until 1888.

Guardhouse

• More buildings on the street in the historic photo.
• The guardhouse is still standing.
• The fort wall is still standing.
• Not as many trees in the historic photo.

Gallows

• The fort wall is still standing.
• The fence is taller and the fence boards overlap.
• The enclosure appears to be smaller.
• There is no window in the door.

Are you up for a challenge?

Here are two bonus views to check out. There are so many differences we lost count. How many can you find?

Bonus - Landscape

Left image

Circa January 1890

Credit: NPS

Right image

Circa January 2016

Credit: NPS

We believe this historic photo was taken from the new federal courthouse on 6th Street and Rogers Ave in January of 1890. The modern-day picture was taken from the roof of the Isaac C. Parker Federal Courthouse on the corner of 6th Street and Rogers Ave in the winter of 2016. These two pictures were taken 126 years apart!

Bonus - Aerial Views

Left image

Aerial view circa 1971

Credit: NPS

Right image

Aerial view circa 2018

Credit: NPS

These pictures were taken looking southeast in 1971 and 2018, 47 years apart!

Where this belongs

• Fort Smith National Historic Site

Where this page came from

This page was imported from National Park Service. Produced by the U.S. National Park Service and, as a work of the United States government, in the public domain.

Nobody has written it yet — it is the source material at a new address, which is why search engines are asked to skip it and why no one earns from it. It is up for grabs: take it on, and it is yours to rewrite and to earn from.