Trial Reenactment United States v. Belle and Sam Starr

Name: Trial Reenactment United States v. Belle and Sam Starr
Start: 2025-10-04T13:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-10-04T14:30:00-05:00
Location: 320 Rogers Ave, Fort Smith, AR, United States, Arkansas 72901

Schedule

Sat Oct 04 2025 at 01:00 pm to 02:30 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

320 Rogers Ave, Fort Smith, AR, United States, Arkansas 72901 | Fort Smith, AR

Special Trial Reenactment during the Fort Smith Fall Festival
United States v. Belle and Sam Starr
October 4, 2025
1:00 pm
Free!
Curious about sitting on the jury of a historical trial? Join the Fort Smith Museum of History during Fall Festival 2025 for a (free) reenactment of the 1883 trial of the US v. Belle and Sam Starr!
In 1883, Belle and Sam Starr were tried for horse theft. As United States citizens who were accused of a crime in Indian Territory, they were tried in the Federal Court of the Western District of Arkansas. Presiding over the case was none other than Judge Isaac C. Parker. Once they were accused of stealing the horse, the Starr’s claimed they simply found a horse and even offered to pay the owner, Andrew Crane. Are they guilty? You decide! Be part of the audience and the jury!
During your visit to the FSMH--continue the outlaw history and check out the exhibition on Belle Starr, "Belle Starr: HerStory"! (2nd floor of the FSMH).
Special thanks to the Fort Smith Museum of History Special Event Volunteers for organizing this production!