On April 25th, 2026, Fort Smith will be hosting its America’s 250th Celebration as part of Fort Smith Darby Days. The event honors veterans past and present and includes the General William Darby 5K Run the following day. From 10-3 on Saturday the 25th, Fort Smith National Historic Site will be showcasing a military timeline, from Revolutionary War to modern, active-duty military, military encampments, living history and historic weapons demonstrations. At 10 am there will be a series of
speakers including Mayor George McGill, Lt. Colonel Linn and our Keynote Speaker, Lydia Klimuk, a Holocaust Survivor. It will also include a flag raising ceremony on the park’s 100 foot tall, garrison flagpole.  At 11am there will be an area where you can meet and greet with veterans as far back as WWII and Holocaust survivors. And at 12pm and 2pm there will be historic weapons demonstrations. At 1pm in the park's visitor center, Miss Laura's Brothel Museum will be offering a program entitled 'Services for Service Men: The Untold History of Women's Roles in War Time.' We will be partnering with the Chaffee
Crossing Barbershop Museum, Miss Laura's Brothel Museum and the Fort Smith Museum of History. The Fort Smith Museum of History will have food trucks, family activities and free entrance to their museum. 

All day there will be living history and military encampments between the two museums including a very large military vehicle collection from WWII to Desert Storm! The program is free to the public.

  • 10am-Veteran’s Honors Ceremony—Keynote Speaker Lydia Klimuk, Holocaust Survivor
  • 11am—Veteran’s Meet and Greet
  • 12pm—'From Flintlocks to M4s’--Historic Weapons Demonstrations
  • 1pm—Miss Laura’s Brothel Museum presents, ‘Services for Service Men: The Untold History of Women’s
  • Roles in War Time’
  • 2pm—'From Flintlocks to M4s’--Historic Weapons Demonstration

EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA ™
The National Park Service cares for special places saved by the American people so that all may experience our heritage.