Overview
The Arkansas River runs past Fort Smith on the Oklahoma border and is navigable for barges to the Mississippi River.
History
The river brought traders and the military to Fort Smith in the 1800s. Locks and dams completed around 1970 made it a commercial waterway.
Today
The riverfront has parks, trails and the new Marshals museum, while barges move freight on the water.
Compiled October 2026. History is summarized for general interest; check primary sources for research. This landmark is local context, not an employer or job listing.