The park visitor center is now located in the old Barracks/Courthouse/Jail building . Exhibits in the visitor center focus on Fort Smith 's military history from 1817 – 1871 , western expansion , Judge Isaac Parker and the federal court 's impact on Indian Territory , U.S. Deputy Marshals and outlaws , Federal Indian policy , and Indian Removal including the Trail of Tears . Located on the grounds are the foundation remains of the first Fort Smith ( 1817 – 1824 ) , the commissary building ( c. 1838 ) and a reconstruction of the gallows used by the federal court . A walking trail along the Arkansas River includes wayside exhibits on the Trail of Tears . This was also one of the areas Bonnie and Clyde stopped at and they were killed after leaving . Land on the Oklahoma bank of the Arkansas River was authorized to be included in the National Historic Site to preserve a historic viewshed , but has not been acquired
Trail of Tears
Trail of Tears
Fort Smith National Historic Site