Day 4 Fort Smith, AR

There are a lot of churches here, some in metal sheds, some in buildings like this Baptist church.

This is Lee Creek. We are camping near the edge of this creek. It's bigger than most rivers in California, and they call it a creek.

"Miss Laura's" used to be a brothel. She bought it for $3000. in 1903, and sold it for $47,000 in 1911. Now it serves as a visitors center. We had a very nice tour by a volunteer named Betty.

Took a trolley tour of the historic region of Fort Smith. The trolleys ran from 1902, when they were pulled by mules, to the mid 1930's. They stopped running after the ford model T made owning a car affordable for most people.

Inside the commissary of Fort Smith they tried to maintain a 6 month supply of food for the soldiers. Despite their efforts, hunger was not uncommon.

The outside of the commissary. After the civil war it served as a courthouse for a few years.

This building began as barracks for the soldiers at Fort Smith. It later served as a couthouse and jail. This is the courthouse where Isaac Parker (the Hanging Judge) sentenced 79 people to death by hanging.

Inside the original jail. The jailers would put sawdust in the ceiling to try to keep the smell from coming up to the the courtrooms. They held 30 to 40 prisoners in this room.

They later built a new jail in this building with individuals cells and better sanitation.

The gallows where 86 people were hanged to death. 79 of those were sent to their death by Judge Parker.


After we took in all of the history of the town we headed over to La Huertas Mexican restaurant (recommended by the volunteers at the courthouse) and had a wonderful late lunch. As we left the restaurant it started to rain, so we headed back to the rv. We got deluged by rain and hail on the drive back. Now we have our tv on listening to the severe weather warnings issued for this area. We will probably stay in this evening.