
Fort Smith National Historic Site preserves the remains of two frontier forts, the commissary building, the Federal Court for the Western District of Arkansas and Indian Territory, and reconstructed gallows used by the federal court. The site is located along the Arkansas River and the Trail of Tears.
Junior Ranger Programs offered at this park:
- The Fort Smith National Historic Site Junior Ranger Program is currently the only ongoing junior ranger program available at this park on a regular basis.
Note: The park previously offered the Fort Smith National Historic Site Time Ranger Program which is currently unavailable. It may be offered again in the future.
Also Note: this park offers a B.A.R.K. Ranger Program booklet and badge
3 ways to access this park’s junior ranger booklet:
- The booklet is available in person at the information desk in the Visitor Center located at: 301 Parker Avenue, Fort Smith, AR 72901
- To request a digital copy that you can print at home, send an email to the park at fosm_parkinfo@nps.gov.
- Or, you may request by phone or email (both listed below) to have the booklets mailed to you. Be sure to include a mailing address and specify how many you need.
How to complete this program:
There is one booklet geared toward children up to age 12, but all ages are welcome to participate.
Your age determines how many activities in the booklet you have to complete and you can choose which activities you will complete.
- Up to age 6 – complete four activities.
- Age 7 to 9 – complete seven activities.
- Age 10 and older – complete nine activities.
Many of the activities contained in this booklet are intended to be completed at the park in person. Some activities can be completed remotely using information on the park website.
Information to help you complete the activities can be found in a few ways:
- Watch one of the park films.
- Walk around the Fort grounds and River Loop Trail and read the interpretive signs.
- Exhibits in the visitor center/museum.
- Information on the park website and in the park brochure/Unigrid.
- Talking to Park Rangers.
3 ways to turn in your completed junior ranger booklet:
- Completed booklets may be turned in, in person at the Visitor Center located at: 301 Parker Avenue, Fort Smith, AR 72901
- If you completed the Fort Smith junior ranger booklet remotely, or you didn’t complete the book while at the park, or you weren’t able to turn it in while the Visitor Center was open, you may submit it by email. Send an email to fosm_parkinfo@nps.gov with pictures of your completed book and a mailing address. The park will then send you a badge.
- Or, you may mail completed booklets to the park at: 301 Parker Avenue, Fort Smith, AR 72901. The Park Ranger will look it over, sign and date the certificate, and mail it back to you along with a badge. Don’t forget to include a mailing address.
Estimated time to complete:
While the booklet can be completed in about 45 – 60 minutes on average, we recommend planning a few hours to explore everything the park has to offer.

What you earn:
- A wood Junior Ranger Badge with the words, “Junior Ranger, Fort Smith National Historic Site”.
- An official Junior Ranger Certificate on the back cover of the junior ranger booklet, signed and dated by a Park Ranger.

Monetary costs:
- It does not cost anything to participate in this junior ranger program. The booklets and badges are free of charge.
- The gift store in the Visitor Center sells a junior ranger patch, pictured here.
important to know about this park:
- A great way to start your park visit and learn about the site is by watching one of the park films which are available upon request in the Visitor Center. The park films are also available to watch prior to your visit on the park website at https://www.nps.gov/fosm/learn/photosmultimedia/videos.htm or on the park’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@FortSmithNHS.
- There’s tons of great exhibits to explore in the museum, located in the barracks/courthouse/jail building, which focus on Fort Smith’s military history from 1817 – 1871, western expansion, the federal court’s impact on Indian Territory, Federal Indian policy, and Indian Removal.
- This site is fee-free year-round. No entrance fee or pass is required and parking is free.
- Walk around the Fort grounds to explore the cannons and wagons, educational wayside panels, the Commissary Building (oldest standing building in Fort Smith), the Garrison Flag, the Army and Jail wagons, and the reconstructed Gallows.
- Walk the mile long, paved River Loop Trail to see remnants of the foundation of the first Fort Smith and views of the Poteau and Arkansas Rivers. Interpretive signs are located along the trail.
- Contact the park for a schedule of upcoming living history events.
Park Details
REGION | Southwest States |
CITY, STATE | Fort Smith, Arkansas |
GENERAL LOCATION | Downtown Fort Smith on the Arkansas River, just south of Hwy 64 |
PARK HOURS | Park grounds are open daily 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset. |
VISITOR CENTER HOURS | Daily from 9:00am to 5:00pm, except Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. |
PARK WEBSITE | www.nps.gov/fosm |
PARK EMAIL | fosm_parkinfo@nps.gov |
PARK PHONE # | 479-783-3961 |
PARK ADDRESS | 301 Parker Avenue Fort Smith, AR 72901 |
PARK MAILING ADDRESS | 301 Parker Avenue Fort Smith, AR 72901 |
PARK THEME | Westward Expansion |
Other nearby Parks, Junior ranger Programs and attractions:
- Pea Ridge National Military Park is approximately 95 miles to the North and is the closest National Park Service site to this park and offers a junior ranger program.
- Hot Springs National Park is approximately 125 miles to the Southeast of the park and is the closest National Park Service site in that direction and offers a junior ranger program.
- Buffalo National River is approximately 150 miles to the Northeast of the park and has a junior ranger program.
- Fort Smith’s official welcome center, Miss Laura’s, offers tours of the restored Victorian mansion which was once a bordello. Miss Laura’s is two blocks north of the park.
- Stop at the Fort Smith National Cemetery, located a little over three blocks east of the park on Garland Ave., to visit gravesites of veterans from the War of 1812 to present, including Isaac C. Parker.
- Visit the Fort Smith Museum of History to learn more about the history and culture of Fort Smith and the surrounding region.

Disclaimer
While we have made every effort to provide you with the most accurate and up-to-date information, Ranger Trek assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this site. The information contained herein is provided without guarantees of completeness, accuracy, usefulness, or timeliness. If you come across any errors or omissions, we welcome your feedback so that we can promptly update our information. Parks occasionally modify their junior ranger programs. For example, a park might revise its junior ranger booklet, introduce or discontinue an additional junior ranger program, or alter the badges or patches they award. Some parks may offer extra junior ranger programs and badges only during specific events rather than on a regular basis. Before relying solely on the information provided here, we encourage you to conduct your own due diligence. The primary source for the information in this article is the park itself. We recommend verifying any details with the park via their website, email, or phone.
Please note: All outdoor recreation activities carry inherent risks, and readers should assume personal responsibility for their safety.
Last updated: 9/4/2024