At Belle Point, the first thing that catches your eye is a remarkable geographical meeting: the overlook looks out over the confluence of the Arkansas and Poteau Rivers. The foundation remains of the first Fort Smith can also be seen there. The river landscape and the history of the first fort share the same view—a striking introduction to discovering Fort Smith through its location and visible traces of the past.
Fort Smith’s River Setting and History
At the Fort Smith National Historic Site visitor center, you can tour Judge Parker’s restored courtroom. The paved River Loop Trail offers another perspective: It is 0.75 miles long, starts at the main parking lot, and follows the Arkansas River at the site where the first Fort Smith was built in 1817. The route links a clearly identified river path with a specific historic landmark; its length can be considered separately from the longer trails at the nature center.
The Fort Smith Visitor Center places history in a broader context: interactive displays, curated exhibits, and immersive storytelling formats explore the city’s past and present. Local experts can also help plan visits to historic landmarks, outdoor activities, dining, arts, and family-friendly attractions.
Collections, Streetcars, and Architecture
The Fort Smith Museum of History preserves about 40,000 artifacts related to the history of the city and surrounding region. It has been housed in the Atkinson-Williams Warehouse since 1979; the building was constructed in 1906. Here, the architectural history of the early 20th century meets a collection whose subjects extend beyond the city into the wider region.
The Fort Smith Trolley Museum showcases a different kind of collection: it owns four of Fort Smith’s original 58 streetcars. They include Fort Smith Light & Power No. 10 and Fort Smith Light & Traction cars No. 205, 221, and 224. The numbers put the four surviving vehicles in the context of a once much larger fleet.
Architecture can also be explored on the scale of an entire neighborhood in the Historic Belle Grove District. Spanning 22 city blocks, the district includes more than 20 architectural styles from the Victorian era. The Clayton House offers a different scale: this Italianate mansion preserves late-19th-century architecture, along with its original staircase and furnishings. Together, the two examples offer different perspectives—from a district’s variety to the details of a single house.
The history of Fort Chaffee is the focus of the Chaffee Barbershop and Military Museum. The museum is part of the Chaffee Crossing Historic District and preserves and presents this history. It is also known as the place where Elvis Presley got his iconic military haircut. The historic site includes original buildings from Fort Chaffee’s history.
Nature Trails, Fishing, and Parks
Visitors of all ages can fish at Wells Lake. Loaner fishing rods and tackle boxes are available at the nature center’s front desk. The lake is regularly stocked with channel catfish in the warmer months and rainbow trout in winter. The seasonal change in fish species gives fishing here a connection to the time of year, while equipment is available to borrow on site.
The Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center offers more than four miles of trails, two of which meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The nature center is located on 170 acres of land that previously belonged to Fort Chaffee. For comparison, the River Loop Trail offers a different measure: its paved loop covers 0.75 miles, while the nature center’s trail network totals more than four miles.
Bob Boyer Park also combines natural space with specific amenities. The 470-acre park is in the southern part of Sebastian County, in the community of Midland. Most of the land is heavily wooded and undeveloped; in addition, there is a paved, 0.5-mile walking path, two picnic pavilions, and restrooms. In both its size and predominantly wooded character, the park differs from the named trails at the other locations.
For another way to find your bearings by the river, the Greg Smith River Trail starts at the River Park Events Building and connects to Fort Smith Park. Its stated starting point and connection give this trail its own orientation, without requiring an estimated walking time or distance.
Discover more destinations: Fort Smith, Craighead, Ashley County, Faulkner, Phillips County, Columbia County, Little River, Lonoke County.
For the broader travel overview: Arkansas.
