After several shopping stops we arrived in Fort Smith, Arkansas and stopped at the Fort Smith National Historic Site.The first Fort Smith was built in 1817 on the frontier as a means to keep the peace between the Osage and Cherokee nations in the newly acquired Louisiana Purchase (what the government call Indian Territory). Less than ten years later, the original Fort Smith was abandoned.
The second fort was built because the locals wanted protection from the Indians, but the Army didn’t see a need for it and mostly used it as a supply station. It was located just on the edge of Indian Territory, and the court there had jurisdiction over the entire Territory. It was a lawless place due to criminals moving there to get away from US law, and then terrorizing the inhabitants. (The court had to send in constables to bring the criminals back, and often it was the constables who didn’t come back).
The jail and courthouse were interesting exhibits. The original building remains, but the insides were restored by the Park Service. Fort Smith was a major stop on the Trail of Tears, the forced relocation of the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole tribes from their lands in the southeastern US to what is now Oklahoma.
One of many campgrounds on DeQueen Lake, Oak Grove was very quiet and away from any highway. Weather forecast sent us on our way rather quickly so no time to explore. Level sites but some are very elevated so you need to watch your step getting out of your vehicle. Bathhouse was old (not just dated) and mens was not really useable. Good Verizon signal. OTA TV not so much. No Wi-Fi.
Seemed like there had been a recent fire. Lots of work being done on this and other campgrounds on the lake.