Fort Smith Museum Gets $200,000 Pledge

Margaret Speer Carter announced Friday a gift of $200,000 to the proposed U.S. Marshals Museum in Fort Smith.

The gift was made from the Melanie Holt Speer Foundation, and is in honor of Carter’s parents, Ralph and Melanie Speer. The two met in Winslow and were married in 1933, according to a news release, and settled in Fort Smith.

Melanie Speer was active in numerous civic organizations throughout her life, and also was instrumental in the restoration of the Bonneville House.

“Her imprints are all over Fort Smith and I believe she would be pleased that their last act of generosity is going to help the U.S. Marshals Museum,” Carter said of her mother.

A $50 million capital campaign started last year to build the 50,000-SF museum along the Arkansas River. Officials have said they hope to break ground next year.