History is alive in Fort Smith. Many unique events occurred along historic Garrison Avenue and nearby neighborhoods from 1817 to the present. From the US military influence beginning in 1817, and Judge Isaac C. Parker's "Hell on the Border" jail, to the numerous businesses along the Avenue since the 1800s, this postcard history of Fort Smith connects the past and the present. Furthermore, it shows the history of urban sprawl, local churches, hospitals, and cultural centers throughout Fort Smith. The city serves as a military training ground, crossroads of river transportation, a hub of rail activity and highways, and as an economic catalyst for growth. Fort Smith celebrates its past as it looks toward the future.