Renewal of a Frontier Town - Fort Smith, Arkansas
Fort Smith, Arkansas is a town rich in heritage of the wild, wild west. For years it was the edge of the western frontier and known as the gateway to the west at the edge of Indian Territory. Because of its strategic location on the Arkansas River, the Butterfield Overland Mail Route, and the border of Arkansas and Oklahoma, it was also home to many saloons and brothels. Some of the most notorious gangsters spent time in Fort Smith like Pretty Boy Floyd, Belle Starr, Bonnie and Clyde, and Frank and Jesse James. The famous “hanging judge”, Isaac C. Parker, was sent to Fort Smith to restore law and order in the late 1800’s, and his courthouse is part of the National Historic Site. But in the last few years, the city has become the center of gathering for world-renowned artists, and the downtown area is being revitalized with the help of these artists in a very unique way.
Many of the older buildings have become the canvas of spectacular artwork. Some of the art depicts the city’s western heritage, and some of the art would be more at home in a modern art gallery. But as all art is, beauty is in the eye of both its creator and its observer.
The artwork has helped create a different, emerging image of the frontier city. Other cities are looking to Fort Smith as they explore ways to re-imagine their towns and renew an interest in creativity and tourism.
The artists gather during an annual event in October called “Unexpected”, and it is transforming what a city can look like.
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