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Before the Badge: The Fugitive Who Learned the Territory
· 15.0 mi
Long before he wore a badge, Bass Reeves crossed this country as a fugitive. Taken into the war by the Texas family that enslaved him, he broke away and fled north into Indian Territory, where he lived for years among…
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King Opera House
· 15.0 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Imagine the echoes of applause and the rustle of velvet curtains – this spot, the King Opera House, was once the beating heart of Van Buren's entertainment scene. Built in the late 19th century, the King Opera House…
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Van Buren Historic District
· 15.0 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Step back in time as you enter the Van Buren Historic District, where echoes of bustling commerce still resonate! This eight-block area along Main Street was the heart of Van Buren, nestled perfectly between the…
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Alma Spinach Capital - Popeye Statue
· 15.3 mi · Historical Marker
Alma, Arkansas declared itself the Spinach Capital of the World in 1987 and erected a Popeye statue, thanks to Allen Canning Company processing more spinach than any other facility in the country.
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Twin Bridges Historic District
· 16.1 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Marvel at these nearly century-old concrete bridges, a testament to early 20th-century engineering and bridge design. Back in 1922, the Luten Bridge Company completed these two closed-spandrel, concrete-deck bridges.…
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Mountainburg, AR
· 16.9 mi
Mountainburg, Arkansas sits nestled in the Ozark foothills, a place where the pace slows, and the views stretch for miles. Incorporated in 1883 and named for the obvious reason – the mountains all around – its early…
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Sequoyah's Cabin
· 17.2 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Imagine single-handedly inventing a way for your people to read and write. That's exactly what Sequoyah did right here near Akins, Oklahoma. Sequoyah, also known as George Gist, moved to this cabin around 1829. He…
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Moffett
· 17.2 mi · Eohc
You're driving past Moffett, Oklahoma, a town with a reputation that once got it declared off-limits to military personnel. Back in the day, Moffett's drinking and gambling halls were so popular, they drew folks from…
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Roland
· 17.5 mi · Eohc
You're driving through Roland, Oklahoma, right now. This town didn't start with a bang, but with a railroad. In 1888, the Kansas and Arkansas Valley Railway laid tracks through this area, then part of the Cherokee…
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Adair County
· 17.6 mi · Eohc
You're driving through Adair County, and right here, this land was once known territory for some of America's most notorious outlaws. Think of names like the Starr family, the James brothers, and even 'Pretty Boy'…
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Stilwell
· 17.6 mi · Eohc
Right here in Stilwell, you're driving through a town born from a railroad's ambitious detour. Arthur Stilwell originally planned his railroad to the Gulf of Mexico, but the tough Boston Mountains forced a change of…
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Mayes, Samuel Houston
· 17.6 mi · Eohc
You're driving through Cherokee County right now, near Stilwell, where a prominent leader of the Cherokee Nation, Samuel Houston Mayes, was born in 1845. His family was already established here, but young Samuel would…
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Bass Reeves: The Deputy Marshal Who Couldn't Read His Warrants
· 18.1 mi
You're in the heart of old Fort Smith, where Judge Isaac Parker ran the federal court for the wild Indian Territory, and where one of the West's greatest lawmen pinned on his star. Bass Reeves was born into slavery…
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Fort Smith National Historic Site
· 18.1 mi · Historical Marker
Federal courthouse where Judge Isaac C. Parker, the 'Hanging Judge,' presided over Indian Territory justice from 1875 to 1896, sentencing 160 people to death.
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Cane Hill College
· 18.1 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Pull over here for a moment; you're standing near the site of Arkansas's first college! Founded as Cane Hill School in 1834, it was established by Cumberland Presbyterians. It transitioned to Cane Hill College in 1852,…
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Fort Smith Museum of History
· 18.1 mi · Scraped Hmdb
These walls have seen Fort Smith transform from a rough-and-tumble frontier outpost to the city it is today. Built in 1906, this building started its life as the Atkinson-Williams Warehouse, a vital hub for commerce in…
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Fort Smith, AR
· 18.1 mi · Local history
Fort Smith, Arkansas, owes much of its early prosperity to its location at the confluence of the Arkansas and Poteau Rivers. This strategic point, known as Belle Point, wasn't just a scenic overlook where duels once…
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Judge Isaac C. Parker Federal Building
· 18.2 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Pull over here – this is where justice met the Wild West. The Judge Isaac C. Parker Federal Building stands where the legendary "hanging judge" Isaac Parker once held court. From 1875 to 1896, Judge Parker presided over…
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New Theatre (Fort Smith, Arkansas)
· 18.3 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Imagine stepping back in time to the golden age of entertainment! Fort Smith's New Theatre, built in 1911, was once the hottest ticket in town. Modeled after the grand New Amsterdam Theatre in New York, this Beaux Arts…
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Maumelle Ordnance Works Locomotive 1
· 18.3 mi · Scraped Hmdb
This unassuming locomotive played a vital role in fueling America's WWII effort. Built in 1942, Maumelle Ordnance Works Locomotive 1 was built by Vulcan Iron Works for the U.S. War Department. Its job was to haul…
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Birney Safety Streetcar No. 224
· 18.3 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Hop aboard a piece of Fort Smith history – this is Birney Safety Streetcar No. 224! Built in 1926, this streetcar was a vital part of the city's transportation network. It's a type of streetcar called a Birney "Safety…
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Fort Smith National Cemetery
· 18.5 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Ever wondered about the untold stories beneath your feet? Here, in Fort Smith National Cemetery, silent rows of headstones whisper tales of courage and sacrifice, a profound testament to the lives that shaped this land.…
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Oak Cemetery
· 19.3 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Step back in time as we approach Oak Cemetery, Fort Smith's oldest graveyard, where the city's history rests beneath your tires. Founded in 1853, Oak Cemetery became the final resting place for many of Fort Smith's…