The US Marshals Museum opened in downtown Fort Smith on July 1, 2023, in a 53,000-square-foot building near the Arkansas River at 789 Riverfront Drive. Five interactive galleries — A Changing Nation, Frontier Marshals, To Be A Marshal, Modern Marshals and The Campfire — cover the service from its founding in 1789 to today, with a recreated frontier town, an exhibit on Bass Reeves that includes his revolver, hands-on training stations, and the Samuel M. Sicard Hall of Honor naming more than 350 marshals killed in the line of duty. Outside stands a 13-foot bronze Lighthorseman statue. The museum's published hours are daily 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from March 1 through Labor Day and Tuesday through Saturday from Labor Day through February; at last check adult admission was $15 and seniors (65 and older) $13, with an all-day pass. Check the museum's own site for current prices.
Fort Smith is where the stories of the Marshals and the court meet: more deputy marshals died riding out of Fort Smith than from any other place, one visitor guide notes. The museum puts faces and artifacts to the history that the National Historic Site explains in the courtroom.
Plan an hour and a half to three hours. The Campfire gallery rewards a slow pace, and the Frontier Marshals town is the draw for children. The all-day ticket lets you leave and return, so you can lunch on the riverfront and come back.
The museum is a nonprofit that runs without government operating funds and launched a national fundraising campaign in March 2026; attendance has grown since opening, with about 47,700 visitors in 2025. It is closed on a handful of holidays including New Year's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
What to expect
The experience
Five galleries with interactive exhibits, artifacts and a recreated frontier town, plus a Hall of Honor and an outdoor statue by the river.
Best time
Any open day; March through Labor Day is daily, otherwise Tuesday to Saturday.
How long
Two to three hours.
Tips
Your ticket is an all-day pass. The cafe has river views. Check the museum's plan-your-visit page for the day you go.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Families and history fans who want interactive displays.
- Families
- The frontier town and training stations keep kids engaged.
- Couples
- Pair with dinner on the Fort Smith riverfront.
- Pair with
- Fort Smith National Historic Site.
- Time needed
- Half a day with a lunch break.
Good questions
Where is it?+
789 Riverfront Drive, Fort Smith, Arkansas 72901.
What does it cost?+
When last published, $15 for adults and $13 for seniors 65 and older. Confirm on the museum's site.
What are the hours?+
Daily 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from March 1 through Labor Day; Tuesday through Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from Labor Day through February.
When did it open?+
July 1, 2023.
Is it far from Van Buren?+
A short drive across the Arkansas River; check a map for your starting point.
