1890 Map of Fort Smith

About this map

Fort Smith and Van Buren sit at the strategic confluence of the Arkansas River and Poteau River, serving as major hubs for the rail and river trade during the late nineteenth century. The convergence of the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad, the Kansas and Arkansas Valley Railroad, and the Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroad underscores the area's importance as a transportation gateway. Across the border in the Indian Territory, the terrain transitions into the steep ridges of the Sugarloaf Mountains and Backbone Mountain.