Fort Smith To Mark Louisiana Purchase Bicentennial Commemoration

2003 marks the 200th anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase with numerous events throughout the state, including a series of special commemorations in the city of Fort Smith.

In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson purchased more than 600 million acres from France for less than three cents an acre, doubling the size of the United States. The land lies between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains and stretches from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian border. The land eventually became seven states, and parts of what would become eight other states. Arkansas was one of the new territories created form the Louisiana Purchase, and the resulting surveying of the land began in Arkansas.

The Louisiana Purchase Bicentennial Committee of Arkansas includes representatives of the partner agencies, communities, and associations. The committee coordinates the efforts of the various state and federal agencies, cities, scholars, associations, and volunteers to plan and implement the year-long commemoration of the bicentennial of the Louisiana Purchase in 2003.

The Louisiana Purchase Bicentennial Committee of Arkansas began meeting in 1998 to develop plans for the observance. The Civic Affairs Committee of the Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce appointed the Fort Smith planning committee as one of six partner cities to stage events to draw attention to the purchase.

Fort Smith Committee Chair Jody Weiche says while the observance of the event will take place throughout the year in Arkansas, a series of special events in Fort Smith will culminate with a special appearance by nationally recognized humanities scholar and cultural commentator, Clay S. Jenkinson, in the character of President Thomas Jefferson.

"We really want to concentrate on creating an awareness of the impact of the Purchase not only on Arkansas, but on the development of the entire country," says Weiche. "We believe the appearances by Mr. Jenkinson as well as representatives of the five civilized tribes will help create a better appreciation of this important event for Fort Smith area students as well as the general public." Events are slated through April 29 (see accompanying schedule).

Additional observances include a special exhibit at the Fort Smith Art Center and a photographic exhibit at the Fort Smith Public Library.

The Art Center event will feature a variety of works by internationally acclaimed artist Charles Banks Wilson, including original paintings, lithographs and a colored prints. The subject matter of the majority of his works depicts Indians, Southwest living and days gone by.

In the South Gallery, commemorating the Louisiana Purchase Celebration, there will be photographs by J. P. Bell of Mr. Wilson's drawings of the eight Indian tribes that were part of that era. These are photographs of Charles Banks Wilson's pencil drawings of pureblood Indians. The original drawings are kept in the archives of the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The Fort Smith Public Library will be hosting a photographic exhibit entitled "Lewis and Clark Revisited: A Trail in Modern Day" during the months of March and April, featuring forty black and white prints by Greg MacGregor. The Library will also host an evening with author M. R. Montgomery, who has written fascinating accounts of the events during the first part of the Nineteenth Century when President Jefferson made a visionary purchase that opened the American frontier.

The Fort Smith Committee will also be awarding a number of scholarships to University of Arkansas at Fort Smith students to help mark the celebration.

Additional information is available at www.lapurchase.org

Fort Smith, Arkansas Observance
Louisiana Purchase Bicentennial

March-April 2003

Fort Smith Public Library will host a photographic exhibit entitled, "Lewis and Clark Revisited: A Trail in Modern Day," by Greg MacGregor. The exhibit will also include excerpts from the journals kept by Lewis and Clark as they explored the land included in the purchase.

April 10, 2003

Fort Smith Public Library will host an evening with M. R Montgomery, author of "Jefferson and the Gun-men: How the West was Almost Lost"--6:30 p.m.

April 26, 2003

Fort Smith Art Center will host a public reception marking the opening of the Charles Banks Wilson art exhibit-5:00p.m.-8:00 p.m.

April 28, 2003

Private reception for Fort Smith Louisiana Purchase Celebration sponsors, Tribal Leaders, Clay Jenkinson, and scholarship recipients. Fort Smith Public Library-6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.

April 29, 2003

Tribal Leaders panel discussion with public school students. Fort Smith Convention Center Annex (former Library building), 9:30 a.m.-11:00a.m.

Clay Jenkinson makes talk show appearances 8:00a.m.-10:30 a.m.

Tribal Leaders and Clay Jenkinson panel discussion with public school students-also open to general public. Fort Smith Convention Center Annex (former Library building), 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

Clay Jenkinson performance open to the general public. Fort Smith Convention Center Annex (former Library building), 7:00 p.m.