National Historic Sites - Multi-State

Fort Smith National Historic Site (Arkansas, Oklahoma)

5/19/2002 Drove into town to Fort Smith NHS [AR][NHL], arriving a few minutes before opening at 9:00. Saw a film and good exhibits on the two forts and the court/jailhouse which managed the flow of Indians to the Indian Territory and also maintained law. Took a walk down to river overlook and an exhibit on the Trail of Tears.

The park sign

A wide view of the area

The court/jailhouse and encampment

Inside the jail

The jail gallows

Me and Trail of Tears info

Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site (Montana, North Dakota)

6/12/2008 Headed back into ND and to Fort Union NHS [Trading Post NHL]. This is a nice reconstruction of the fur trading fort established in the 1800s (based upon suggestions by L&C). Very well done as usual – we checked out the museum located in the rather ornate main building as well as other exhibits outside.

The park sign

A wide shot of the fort and Indian village

The main entrance ...

.. and interesting mural

A shot of the excellent reconstruction

Fort Vancouver National Historic Site (Oregon, Washington)

5/21/1998 Over the Columbia into Washington, over to Fort Vancouver NHS [Vancouver, WA] (on the Oregon NHT). Had a personal tour of the very accurately reconstructed Hudson Bay Company fort (protected the furs, not for war). Saw a great reconstruction of the fur room - hundreds of real pelts as it would have been in the 1830s. Also saw the trading store, big house (where McLoughlin lived while running the fort, until he was made to retire because he helped Oregon Trail people too much), kitchens, etc. Fort is still being archeologically investigated and new buildings put up.

The park sign

The Big House

A view of the nice reconstruction of the fortifications

Officers Row - Marshall House

Officers Row - Grant House