Historical Markers in
Sebastian County, Arkansas

1908 Reunion of U.S. Marshals 50 Year Concrete Street Service Award • 1963 A Building Worth Saving A National Cemetery System Abandoned and Forgotten Address by President Lincoln At the Edge of Indian Country Barracks, Courthouse, Jail Bass Reeves - Lawman on the Western Frontier Battle of Massard Prairie Belle Point Cherokee Nation Chickasaw Nation Choctaw Nation Clues from the Past Confederate Burials in the National Cemetery Confederate [and] Union Occupation of Fort Smith Confederates Occupy The Fort Defending Fort Smith Defending Freedom Deputy U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves Desperate For Survival Establishing Fort Smith Executions at Fort Smith First National Bank Fort Smith National Cemetery Fort Wall Frisco Train Depot Great Cyclone at Fort Smith Major Long Surveys the Western Frontier Marble Hall in 1863 Meeting of Nations Miss Laura's Missouri Kansas and Texas 100162 Diner Bunk Car Missouri Kansas and Texas 100186 Power Car Moon Tree Muscogee (Creek) Nation Officer’s Garden Old Commissary Old Federal Building Old Jail Museum Osage Nation Our Confederate Dead Purple Heart Memorial Request Denied Reynolds - Davis Wholesale Grocery Company Sebastian County California Gold Seekers Sebastian County Seat of Justice Seminole Nation The Bastion That Never Was The Commissary Storehouse The Fishback Block in 1872 The Flagstaff The Gallows The Guardhouse, 1849-1871 The New Theatre in 1911 The Officer’s Quarters The Parade Grounds The Phoenix Block The Trail of Tears The Women’s Jail, 1872-1888 United Spanish War Veterans Memorial Veterans Memorial Veterans Memorial Carillon Vietnam War Memorial Vogel & Wallace W.J. Murphy - Eads Brothers Building in 1903 Welcome to Fort Smith Whiskey War Who Served Here? William O. Darby “Spirit of the American Doughboy”
Arkansas has a rich Native American history, with numerous tribes including the Caddo, Osage, and Quapaw living in the region for thousands of years before European settlement. The Trail of Tears, which was the forced relocation of Native American tribes from the southeastern United States to Oklahoma, also passed through Arkansas.
Arkansas random facts
Sebastian County, located in northwest Arkansas, has a rich history dating back to prehistoric times. The area was originally inhabited by various Native American tribes, including the Quapaw, Osage, and Caddo. European exploration of the area began in the 17th century, with French explorers and trappers venturing into what is now Sebastian County. However, it wasn't until the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 that the United States gained control over the region.

In the early 1800s, the U.S. government relocated Native American tribes from the southeastern states to present-day Oklahoma, including the removal of the Quapaw from the area that is now Sebastian County. This paved the way for European-American settlers to move in and establish towns and communities.

Sebastian County was officially established in 1851 and named after William K. Sebastian, a U.S. Senator from Arkansas. The county became an important transportation hub with the construction of the Fort Smith Military Road in the 1830s, connecting the area to Fort Smith and the Mississippi River.

During the American Civil War, Sebastian County experienced significant turmoil. Located near the border between the Union and Confederate states, the county was the site of several skirmishes and battles. Fort Smith, a key strategic location, changed hands several times during the war. After the war, the county gradually recovered, and in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it experienced growth and development as an agricultural and industrial region.

Today, Sebastian County is a thriving area, with a diverse economy and a population of over 125,000 residents. It is home to Fort Smith, the county seat, a historically-rich city that preserves its heritage while embracing modern progress. The county boasts scenic natural beauty, historical landmarks, and a vibrant community that continues to shape its history.

This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Sebastian County, Arkansas.

  • 1818 - Sebastian County is established by the Arkansas territorial legislature.
  • 1832 - The Choctaw Nation is removed from the county as part of the Indian Removal Act.
  • 1852 - Fort Smith becomes the county seat.
  • 1861-1865 - Sebastian County is heavily impacted by the American Civil War.
  • 1872 - The county courthouse in Fort Smith is completed.
  • 1898 - The Ouachita and Ozark National Forests are established, covering parts of Sebastian County.
  • 1973 - The Fort Smith National Historic Site is established.
  • 1996 - The federal government recognizes the Fort Smith National Cemetery as an official national cemetery.