The United States Marshals Museum opened in July 2023 on the banks of the Arkansas River, in a striking star-shaped building designed to echo both the U.S. Marshals star badge and the region's frontier history. Fort Smith was chosen for the museum's home because more than 200 deputy marshals died in the line of duty while operating out of this town during the Judge Parker era — more than any other single posting in U.S. history.
Inside, the museum traces the history of the Marshals Service from its founding in 1789 (making it the oldest federal law enforcement agency in the country) through the present day. Interactive exhibits cover everything from the Wild West manhunts of the Indian Territory era to modern witness protection and fugitive operations. The building itself is worth pausing to admire from the riverside walk — its angular form and riverfront position make it one of the more architecturally striking museums in the region.