Welcome to the Fort Smith Trolley Museum
Trolley Schedule
Tuesday - Friday: 12pm till 5pm
Saturday: 10am till 5pm
Sunday: 1pm till 5pm
Museum Schedule
Saturday: 10am till 5pm
Tuesday - Friday: 12pm till 5pm
Saturday: 10am till 5pm
Sunday: 1pm till 5pm
Saturday: 10am till 5pm
In 1979, the Fort Smith Historical Society published the history of the Fort Smith Streetcars. Shortly thereafter, Jack Alexander donated the Fort Smith Light and Traction Co 205 which was used as a play house behind his father's home in Mulberry, Arkansas. This was the beginning of the Fort Smith Trolley Museum.
The body was restored and placed on mobile home wheels. For many years, it was pulled in parades, displayed at different locations and used as the primary fundraising tool for the museum. It was desired to return the car to operation but the proper Cincinnati 139 truck did not exist, to our knowledge, anywhere in the world.
We obtained the patent drawings for the truck and brake system. Cincinnati built the truck by fabrication and it will not be too hard to reproduce. Until recently, the motors, wheels and axle sets were not readily available. The motor wheel sets will have to be obtained to build the Cincinnati 139 truck.
The 20th Century Electric Railway foundation has granted a $4,000 matching grant to be used for this purpose. The funds for the grant have been matched, but the remainder of the cost has not yet been financed.
Completion of this truck will allow the complete restoration of the 205. It will be the only restored Cincinnati Car Company Birney, the second restored Fort Smith Car and the 3rd car in the Arkansas collection.
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