Jr. Marshal Program

Who are United States Marshals?
What do they do?
Why are they important?

These are the things you will learn in our new Jr. Marshal program! Grab a Jr. Marshal booklet from one of our Guest Relations Associates to fill out as you go through the galleries. When you have filled out the guide and “signed” your oath, bring the completed booklet to the front desk, to receive your official Jr. Marshal badge lapel pin. The Jr. Marshal program is included with the purchase of a child’s ticket. (Group rate does not apply.)

Go Bags

The United States Marshals Museum Go-Bag Program offers a specially designed educational experience for preschoolers and their guardians. Each backpack centers around museum themes and provides hands-on activities. Rent the Go-Bags conveniently at the information desk, and no general admission is required, making it accessible to all families. It’s an interactive journey that fosters a deeper understanding of the United States Marshals Service and its role in shaping American history.

Go Bag Themes: Animal Tracks, Many Nations, I Can Be Safe: First Look at Safety, and Character Kids Save The Day.

Investigation Station Program

The United States Marshals Museum Investigation Station Program is an educational initiative that offers short, informal lessons centered around themes and topics found in the museum galleries. The program features three types of programs: STEM, History/Civics, and Art/Crafts. These programs are thoughtfully designed to cater to diverse age ranges and skill levels, ensuring inclusivity and engagement for all visitors. In the upcoming weeks, visitors can look forward to learning about fascinating subjects such as fingerprint facts, Morse Code, and the history of the US Marshal Badge.

Themes: Fingerprint, Morse Code, and Badge.

Educator Resource Series:

Teacher Guides for Civic Literacy Enhancement

The Educator Resource Series (ERS), introduced in 2009, provides educators with primary and secondary resources related to the history of the U.S. Marshals Service, civic knowledge, and more. The series currently includes six titles- Origins & Early Days of the U.S. Marshals, Life and Law in 19th Century Arkansas, U.S. Marshals & the Civil Rights Movement, High Profile Cases of the U.S. Marshals in the Late 20th Century, A More Perfect Union: Marshals and Our Government, and the Three Branches Mini Guides. These resources are not meant to be stand-alone lessons, but to supplement the lesson plans already utilized by teachers. ERS guides are currently being used by teachers and other educators in 24 states across the country. These guides are available for free on our Online Learning Page. 

Talks on Tap

The USMM hosts regular lectures on a variety of topics in the Fall and Spring each year. Established in 2014, previous lecture series titles include Guns of the Frontier (2014), , WANTED (2016), Modern Law Enforcement (2017), Jurisdiction and Judgment (2018), Power & Politics: Know Your Arkansas State Government (2019) and Facing Ourselves: Conversations on Civil Discourse (2020). The lecture series has brought in speakers from across the country, including historians, politicians, law enforcement officials, authors, and more.

Winthrop Paul Rockefeller Distinguished Lecture Series

In 2015, the USMM introduced the Winthrop Paul Rockefeller Distinguished Lecture Series, featuring the late Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia. Over 1500 people attended the lecture, including over 700 secondary students from area schools. Students who attended were invited to submit questions for Justice Scalia, and the top three were invited to have lunch with him and ask their questions at the beginning of the question and answer session. The second lecture of the series was held in 2017, and featured U.S. Representative Trey Gowdy. Over 1200 people attended Congressman Gowdy’s presentation, including over 400 area students.

National History Day

National History Day (NHD) is a national education program that celebrates our nation’s history, highlighting pivotal moments in both U.S. and World History. The USMM has worked to reintroduce this proven program to the Fort Smith Public School District, with the first school signing on in 2015. USMM Chief Programs Manager, Leslie Higgins, was honored by History Day Arkansas as the 2019 Friend of History Day Arkansas recipient for her outstanding and productive efforts to promote and sustain National History Day (NHD) in Fort Smith area schools.

Constitution Week

Each year on September 17, the U.S. recognizes Constitution Day, the anniversary of the signing of the Constitution. The USMM celebrates Constitution Week in Constitution Week with both in person and virtual programming, helping to students to better understand this fundamental, living document that is the basis of our republic.

An Evening in the Past

An Evening in the Past is the USMM’s annual holiday event. This time-period event brings high-quality historical actors to Fort Smith for an evening of history and elegance. Guests are treated to a time period inspired menu and activities, and have the opportunity to learn about the historical person’s life and times. Past guests have included George Washington from Mount Vernon, Thomas Jefferson from Colonial Williamsburg, Theodore Roosevelt and Harriet Tubman. While in Fort Smith, the historical actors also perform in select local schools.