Maybe it’s the sun, or maybe it’s the history behind this park, but my face says it all 🤨 I can physically felt the shift in energy once I stepped into the park grounds and my shoulders instantly felt heavy Between the history of the ‘Indian Territory’ and the story of the Hanging Judge (cue, gallow) this visit further solidified my belief that experiencing the 420+ of @nationalparkservice units is the best way to see America and learn the history of both human and earth Although the stories and exhibitions aren’t always accurate or may be bias based on different perspectives, I’ve been keeping an open mind about learning more from each park visit 100% recommend going beyond the 63 big national parks and check out what the 360+ small parks have to offer. These parks are living classrooms. For my immigrant self, these park visits are great study sessions for a future citizenship test 🙃 More on @fortsmithnps from the park website: From the establishment of the first Fort Smith on December 25, 1817, to the final days of Judge Isaac C. Parker's jurisdiction over Indian Territory in 1896, Fort Smith National Historic Site preserves almost 80 years of history For 23 years, the federal court carried out executions on the gallows at Fort Smith. In 39 separate executions, a total of 86 men were put to death after being found guilty of rape or murder. More men were put to death by the U.S. Government in Fort Smith than in any other place in American history. These executions, as well as the crimes and trials that lead to them, form a unique and fascinating part of the eighty year story of Fort Smith 📍Indigenous land of the Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, Seminole and Osage #fortsmith #fortsmitharkansas • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • #thebucketlisttraveler #nationalparkgeek #nationalpark #nationalparks #americasbestidea #findyourpark #goparks #nationalparkusa #nationalparkservice #nationalparkadventures #nationalparkbucketlist #nature #naturelovers #bucketlists #instagood #travel #travelingram #getoutside #exploremore #explorepage #outdooradventures #adventuretime #letsgoplaces #roamtheplanet #welltraveled #reimember #womenwhohike #weekendwarrior