Hidden History of Fort Smith, Arkansas

During the days of American westward expansion, Fort Smith was the gritty frontier town whose lawless reputation became known both east and west of the Mississippi.

The last developed township just before unsettled native territory and dubbed "Hell on the Border," Fort Smith laid low more than its fair share of settlers, pioneers, and outlaws alike. After years of disorder, reformers and lawmen helped tame the city's wild ways, beginning Fort Smith's transformation into the prosperous city it is. Yet buried beneath Fort Smith's infamous past are forgotten stories, untold tales, and little-known facts concealed just below the city's surface. After years spent researching the city's history for his column in the Times Record, journalist Ben Boulden uncovers Fort Smith's hidden history.