U.S. Marshals Museum boosts visitor count in 2024

by Matthew Noble ([email protected]) 184 views 

The U.S. Marshals Museum in Fort Smith hosted an estimated 85,000 visitors in 2024 from all 50 states. They also counted visitors from every U.S. territory and from at least a dozen foreign countries. The number of visitors increased by about 20,000 from the previous year.

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 final year prior to opening of the museum involved significant fundraising. The design, development and construction of the museum needed to reach a vision that would make it a destination for tourists. Ben Johnson, museum president and CEO, said the largest success was the completion of a “state of the art” exhibit experience “which highlights the entire 235-plus year history of the U.S. Marshals.” The museum also included a temporary exhibit which was on-loan from the Cherokee Nation in 2024.

“We built an amazing team of dedicated individuals who have poured their hearts into providing a world-class experience for our visitors,” he said.

The museum is a non-profit that does not receive operating funds from the city, state or federal government. Johnson said many challenges involved are the same as any small business getting off the ground.

“We learned what it took to operate this amazing building as intended, how to meet the needs of a hugely diverse audience from around the country and around the world,” he said.

Johnson said the museum is planning a variety of programs in 2025 including a new exhibit which will highlight the role of the U.S. Marshals and the City of Fort Smith during the wave of immigration following the wars in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. Also in the works are events planned around National Police Week, Constitution Week, and a variety of camps, field trip programs and other activities for families and youth.