Marshals Museum first year attendance around 65,000; new board member named

by Tina Alvey Dale (tdale@talkbusiness.net)

With an attendance of around 65,000, the U.S. Marshals Museum has had a good inaugural year, according to Ben Johnson, museum president and CEO. He said attendance for the first year is “really great in the post-COVID world.”

Initial studies suggested the museum could average around 100,000 to 150,000 visitors annually.

“We didn’t really know what to expect. We hoped for higher numbers, but we’ve been very active. The traffic really has been awesome,” Johnson said, adding that he expects year No. 2 to be even better with a growing number of programs.

Marshals Museum first year attendance around 65,000; new board member named

Cherokee Freedmen touring exhibit opens at the U.S. Marshals Museum

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

The U.S. Marshals Museum is the third location for a touring exhibit created by the Cherokee Nation that focuses on the tribe’s “painful moments” with slavery, especially with the Cherokee Freedmen.

“We Are Cherokee: Cherokee Freedmen and the Right to Citizenship,” features the stories, history, images and documents of Cherokee Freedmen, alongside original artworks by Cherokee Nation artists. The special exhibit opened May 11 at the museum, which is located at 789 Riverfront Drive in downtown Fort Smith.

The special exhibit is presented as part of the Cherokee Freedmen Art and History Project initiative, established by Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., to broaden Cherokee Nation’s understanding of the Cherokee Freedmen experience and ensure that it is included in the greater narrative of Cherokee history.

Cherokee Freedmen touring exhibit opens at the U.S. Marshals Museum

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., speaks during the opening of the Cherokee Freedmen exhibit at the U.S. Marshals Museum.

Steel Horse Rally adds antique motorcycle show, partners with U.S. Marshals Museum

by Tina Alvey Dale (tdale@talkbusiness.net)

The Steel Horse Rally is partnering with the U.S. Marshals Museum to add a new event to Fort Smith’s annual motorcycle event – the Bikes and Badges antique motorcycle show.

Now in its ninth year, the Steel Horse Rally is slated for May 3-4 in downtown Fort Smith. Bikes and Badges antique motorcycle show will make its debut from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 4 at the U.S. Marshals Museum, 789 Riverfront Drive. The new event is sponsored by Fort Smith Harley-Davidson, said Steel Horse Rally president and founder Dennis Snow.

That sponsorship means visitors can get into the Marshals Museum free of charge from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 4, Snow said.

Steel Horse Rally adds antique motorcycle show, partners with U.S. Marshals Museum

U.S. Marshals Museum Foundation welcomes 3 new board members ahead of March meeting

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

The U.S. Marshals Museum Foundation, the fundraising arm of the Fort Smith museum, will hold its next scheduled meeting on March 7. It will be the first meeting for three new board members — Neff Basore of Bella Vista, Ryan Gehrig of Fort Smith and David Harlow of Loda, Ill.

Basore is senior vice president of residential developer Cooper Communities Inc. in Rogers. He is also a captain in the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, where he commands the Reserve Division and a member of the Arkansas State Police Commission.

Gehrig is president of Mercy Arkansas Communities, leading all Mercy hospitals across the state. That includes its two largest hospitals in Fort Smith and Rogers. Gehrig first came to Mercy as the president of the Fort Smith hospital in April 2012.

U.S. Marshals Museum Foundation welcomes 3 new board members ahead of March meeting

Fort Smith baseball team adopts ‘Marshals’ moniker, mascot

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

“Marshals” is the team name and mascot for the Fort Smith baseball team set to begin play in the new Mid America League this spring. The name and logo was unveiled Thursday (Jan. 18) during at event at the U.S. Marshals Museum in downtown Fort Smith.

According to Marshals General Manager Greg Kigar the new name was “easily the most popular” in a naming contest sponsored by the team. Other names considered included Lawmen, Judges, Gunslingers and Outlaws.

“The Marshals name is a great fit for the team, which includes the regional history of Bass Reeves, Judge Parker, and the U.S. Marshals Museum,” Kigar said in a statement. “The primary team cap will incorporate a unique star with an ‘F’ and ’S’ for Fort Smith, and the secondary logo is a rugged image of a marshal with cowboy hat and scarf. An Old West script will be utilized for the uniforms, incorporating Fort Smith on the road jerseys and Marshals on the home uniforms.”

Fort Smith baseball team adopts ‘Marshals’ moniker, mascot

U.S. Marshals Museum opening, pilot training center top Fort Smith metro stories in 2023

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

The long-awaited opening of the U.S. Marshals Museum and the final decision to place a foreign pilot training center in Fort Smith were two of the top news stories in the Fort Smith metro during 2023.

Following are the top five stories, followed by a list of other notable news.

1. U.S. Marshals Museum finally opens
After more than 16 years of fundraising struggles and leadership changes, the U.S. Marshals Museum opened in downtown Fort Smith on June 29. Just under 10,000 people would visit the museum in its first month.

In January 2007, the U.S. Marshals Service selected Fort Smith as the site for the national museum. The Robbie Westphal family, led by Bennie Westphal and Robin Westphal Clegg, donated the riverfront land for the museum. A ceremonial groundbreaking was held in September 2015. Museum officials initially hoped to have the facility open by late 2017, but struggles to raise money delayed the opening. Construction of the approximately 53,000-square-foot U.S. Marshals Museum was completed — except for exhibits — in early 2020.

U.S. Marshals Museum opening, pilot training center top Fort Smith metro stories in 2023

Arkansas Attorney General provides $250,000 grant to U.S. Marshals Museum

by Tina Alvey Dale (tdale@talkbusiness.net)

The Arkansas Attorney General’s office has committed to a $250,000 grant to the U.S. Marshals Museum in Fort Smith, the USMM Foundation announced Tuesday (Sept. 19). The money brings the capital campaign to just under $2 million of the initial $50 million goal.

The grant will go toward funding the campaign of the museum exhibits, said Susan Neyman, chief development officer and president of the foundation.

“Whether it’s through a literary icon like Rooster Cogburn or a real-life hero like Bass Reeves, Fort Smith will always be connected with the U.S. Marshals,” Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin said. “I am delighted to approve this grant for the U.S. Marshals Museum, and I urge all Arkansans to visit this important collection of our state’s and nation’s history.”

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/09/arkansas-attorney-general-provides-250000-grant-to-u-s-marshals-museum/

Coughlin commits $500,000 to U.S. Marshals Museum

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

Cynthia Coughlin, a member of the U.S. Marshals Museum Foundation Board, has committed $500,000 to the recently opened U.S. Marshals Museum in Fort Smith to support static and interactive exhibits in the “Modern Marshals” gallery of the museum.

Born in New York City and raised in the San Francisco Bay area, Coughlin moved to Northwest Arkansas in 1978. She was married to Tom Coughlin, former vice chairman of Walmart Inc., who died in 2016. Walmart founder Sam Walton recruited Coughlin in 1978 while he was at Ohio-based supermarket and discount department store chain company Cook United.

Since 1984, she has operated Coughlin’s Ranch, a cattle-breeding operation specializing in registered Black Angus in Centerton.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/07/coughlin-commits-500000-to-u-s-marshals-museum/

‘Harsh setbacks’ overcome to open the U.S. Marshals Museum in Fort Smith

by Michael Tilley (mtilley@talkbusiness.net)

The relief was palpable among many of the 350 who gathered Thursday (June 29) to open the U.S. Marshals Museum in Fort Smith. It was a project 16 years in the making. Doug Babb said what is now a “glorious opening” was a “difficult task” and sometimes felt like an “impossible dream.”

Babb, chair of the U.S. Marshals Museum Board of Directors, said a year after it was announced Fort Smith was selected as the museum site, the Great Recession hit. That would be among several “extremely harsh setbacks” during the process to fund and build the national museum, Babb told the crowd.

“We had a difficult task. We had to raise $50 million,” Babb said, adding that “Today, our dream is a reality, and I thank you all for that.”

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/06/harsh-setbacks-overcome-to-open-the-u-s-marshals-museum-in-fort-smith/

The Fort Smith Police Department Color Guard stand near the Samuel M. Sicard Hall of Honor prior to the beginning of Thursday’s (June 29) ceremonial opening of the U.S. Marshals Museum.

U.S. Marshals Museum in Fort Smith, AR opening to the public on July 1, 2023

The U.S. Marshals Museum expects to tell the story of our nations’ Marshals beginning July 1st, 2023!

Founded in 1817, Fort Smith is now celebrating its bicentennial milestone. With an exciting past, a vibrant present, and a strong future, Fort Smith provides the perfect setting for the U.S. Marshals Museum – and an entertaining travel destination for you and your family. Use this page as a guide to help plan your trip. We look forward to your visit!

Museum Address:  789 Riverfront Drive, Fort Smith, AR 72901.

Hours Of Operation:  Open: 9a-5p Daily starting July 1st, 2023.

Memberships: Learn more about Memberships available.

Contact: info@usmmuseum.org, (479) 242-1789

Our Mission

The Mission of the U.S. Marshals Museum is to form a national center of heritage and legacy, disseminate knowledge, and inspire appreciation for the accomplishments of the U.S. Marshals Service.

Our Vision

The U.S. Marshals Museum will inspire Americans across the country—both now and for future generations—to live with the core values of the U.S. Marshals Service: “Justice, Integrity, and Service.”

State Capitol Exhibit Focuses on History of U.S. Marshals Service in Arkansas

(LITTLE ROCK, ARK.) – Arkansas Secretary of State John Thurston would like to invite the public to view the latest exhibit at the State Capitol.

In this exhibit, we celebrate the United States Marshals Service, the nation's oldest law enforcement agency, and showcase a brief history of the Marshals who brought law and order to our state.

Today, the role of the Marshal Service has expanded to include security to the federal judiciary and manages the witness security program. It manages and sells seized or forfeited assets of criminals, is responsible for the confinement and transportation of federal prisoners who have not yet been turned over to the Bureau of Prisons, and is the primary federal agency responsible for fugitive investigations.

On September 24, 2014, the 225th anniversary of the U.S. Marshals Service, a groundbreaking ceremony was held in Fort Smith for the United States Marshals Museum; the museum is scheduled to open on July 1, 2023.

Secretary Thurston said, "The new U.S. Marshals Museum will be a showcase for Arkansas, encouraging tourism and serving as a true educational experience for those interested in our nation's history. We are proud to partner with them on this exhibit at the Capitol."

The Secretary of State’s Office would like to thank the following for their contributions to this exhibit: David Kennedy, Curator, United States Marshals Museum; Dave Lumbert; David Turk, National Historian, United States Marshals Service; and U.S. Marshal Jeremy Hammons.

The display is located in the fourth floor gallery and will be available for viewing through August 21st.