The Old South's Giant Memento at Fort Smith, AR: A 42-Foot-Tall Reminder

The Old South's Giant Memento at Fort Smith, AR: A 42-Foot-Tall Reminder

Down in Fort Smith, Arkansas, you'll find a colossal figure from yesteryears, but don't let its age fool you, this old relic still knows a trick or two. It's the town's silent protector, casting a long, imposing shadow across the courthouse grounds.

Plunked right in the middle of Fort Smith, Arkansas stands the Ft. Smith Confederate Monument, a throwback to 1903 when the local Daughters of the Confederacy decided to erect a tribute. Towering at 42 feet tall with a 6-footer soldier on top, it faces northwards, looking like the city's own super-sized guardian. The sculpture itself is a crafty work of art, every detail meticulously carved to honor the Confederate dead from 1861-1865. Inscribed at its base are the words 'Our Confederate Dead 1861-1865, Lest We Forget.' The monument scored a place on the National Register of Historic Places back in 1994, giving it the recognition it deserves as a significant historical figure in the community.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons

Written by Friendly Jane

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