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

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.

Revenue, Johnson said, is great and the museum is able to work out its budget with the help of a number of supporters who are working “hand-in-hand” with the museum to keep operations running smoothly.

“We have been blessed with some support to off-set our expenses, and we’re happy. We know there may be difficult days ahead, but we’re doing well,” Johnson said.

Some of the biggest challenges are those many Arkansans can sympathize with – keeping up with the energy costs. Heating and cooling a 53,000-square-foot building with a wall of windows and incredibly high ceilings is a challenge, Johnson said. But the staff does it best to cut whatever costs it can, wherever they can, he said.

The staff of around 20 part-time, full-time and seasonal are foremost dedicated to offering a resource for the region and the state, he said. The museum is offering a host of summer camps and preparing for more events in the fall and winter. Donations have allowed the museum to be able to offer scholarships that can cover the cost of bus fees and substitute teachers that will allow more schools to take advantage of educational tours for school, Johnson said.

And private events ranging from weddings to corporate events to receptions to company parties are proving to be a nice jolt of revenue, he said.

“That is a very great surprise. We have a large number wanting to use the building in a variety of ways,” Johnson said.

The museum opened on July 1, 2023, after 16 years of fundraising, construction and speculation. 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.

The museum announced Monday (July 15) that Jamie Moore of Muldrow joined the museum’s board leadership July 1. Moore is a long-time area resident and is a graduate of Southside High School and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She has spent most of her professional career working in Roland as a pharmacist.

Moore is the owner/operator of Packard Point Ranch located in Muldrow, a working cattle ranch and beef producer in addition to an event venue.