Travel South Magazine Travel South low (kasey daleo's conflicted copy 20 | Page 102

THE BEST OF
ARKANSAS
Arkansas has a highly-developed, rich history that is
underappreciated and underexplored.
With things like the Fort Smith National
Historic Site and The Gangster Mu-
seum of America, Arkansas is certainly
a top contender on our travel lists this
season.
The Fort Smith area was incorporated
into the United States during the
Louisiana Purchase of 1803, and was
named after General Thomas Adam
Smith, who was originally part of the
survey crew who scouted the area for
100 | Spring 2018 | Travel South
a military post site. Eventually, the
peace Treaty of Fort Smith was nego-
tiated and recognized in 1822, and a
settlement formed thereafter.
Visit the Fort Smith National Historic
Site today for in-depth historical analy-
sis and a tour of the land. The former
courthouse from the settlement now
serves as the Visitor Center, where
tourists can view one exhilarating ex-
hibit after another, including a time
piece on the infamous Bonnie and
Clyde crime duo, who were killed
shortly after leaving that exact area.
Speaking of infamous criminals, head
to Hot Springs, where you’ll be de-
lighted to enter The Gangster Museum
of America. Step back in time into the
20s and 30s, even the 40s, where you
will experience day-to-day life for both
local and country-wide famous crimi-
nals alike. From bootlegging and gam-
bling, to crimes of passion and gang
life, the audio tapes alone are enough
to keep you going. Stare into photo-
graphs, play in the antique casino, and
listen carefully as your tour guide tells
you these criminals’ dirty secrets.