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Fort Smith National Historic Site Named Top Place To Visit In Arkansas

FORT SMITH (KFSM) — The TripAdvisor company, FlipKey, released a list of the top historical spots worth visiting for each state. Listed among famous place...

FORT SMITH (KFSM) -- The TripAdvisor company, FlipKey, released a list of the top historical spots worth visiting for each state.

Listed among famous places like the OK Corral in Tombstone, Arizona and the Hermitage in Nashville, was the Fort Smith National Historic Site.

“We just learned that we were listed as the number one site in Arkansas to come and visit, and we were shocked,” said Michael Groomer, the site's chief of interpretation.

Groomer said he thinks the site made the list because more tourists are coming to the area.

“When visitors come in we consistently hear from people that they're shocked and excited about the history we have here,” Groomer said.

Park ranger Cody Faber said this isn’t just important for the historic site but for the city as well.

''It doesn't just say something about the site itself, but it says things about the community, the volunteers who work here, the people who are dedicated to promoting fort smith as a town,” Faber said.

Faber said the other tourist destinations around town are helping bring more people into the city.

“The word's getting out,” Faber said. “We're getting more and more people interested in the Marshall's Museum, more and more interested in the other sites around the town, and of course, they come visit us as well, and we're pumped about it.”

Groomer said this kind of attention is coming at a good time for the park.

“I'm excited about this because I really think that it's going to bring in more visitors,” Groomer said. “This is great because, as I said, it's the parks service centennial, so we have some neat programs planned, so the timing couldn't be better.”

For complete list of historical places worth visiting, click here.

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