Come and enjoy an evening of historical musical entertainment at Historic Washington State Park on the third Saturday of each month. Beginning on Saturday, June 19 on the 1874 Courthouse lawn, The Prairie County Avengers string band will perform, showcasing classic pieces from the mid-nineteenth century, Stephen Foster melodies and songs such as “Wait for the Wagon.” It will be a fun time for the entire family. Performances to follow will be the Hope Melody Boys on July 17th and the sixteen-member Heritage Brass Band from Dallas, Texas on August 21st. Each event will take place on the open lawn of the 1874 Courthouse. Everyone is encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets, since no seating will be provided. This project is supported in part by a grant from the Arkansas Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Admission: FREE

The Fort Smith National Historic Site will offer free programs on the anniversaries of executions in June. A park ranger will present a program at the gallows about the crime, arrest, trial and execution involved in each case. Each program will be offered twice a day at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. The park always hangs one to six nooses representing each man executed on these anniversaries and is generally the only time they are on the gallows today. In the 1800s, execution by hanging was the only method of corporate punishment used in the federal court at Fort Smith. Often these executions brought in large groups of people who wanted to witness the occasion. Between 1873 and 1896, 86 people were executed at the gallows. Thursday, July 1 Execution of Rufus Buck, Lewis Davis, Lucky Davis, Maoma July, and Sam Samson Tuesday, July 6 Execution of Gus Bogles Friday, July 9 Execution of William John Stansberry Sunday, July 11 Execution of John Davis, Thomas Thomson, and JackWomankiller Friday, July 23 Execution of Calvin James and Lincoln Sprole Sunday, July 25 Execution of Lewis Holder Friday, July 30 Execution of James Casherago, alias George Wilson Fort Smith National Historic Site is located in downtown Fort Smith. To access the free parking lot from Garrison Avenue, turn south on 4th Street and west on Garland Avenue. For more information on the park, please call the park at 479-783-3961.

Anyone interested in learning about living history interpretation, developing presentations, or receiving the ALHA Apprentice certification, join us for a day of fun. The workshop will take place from 9 to 5 and lunch will be provided. The cost for the workshop is $15. The presenters are Doug Kidd, Billy Nations, Shiloh Museum staff, and others. Call or email Pody Gay at the Shiloh Museum to register, 479-750-8165 or pgay@springdalear.gov. You must complete the entire day, or all three of the first level components, to be certified as an Apprentice by ALHA. • Making History Come Alive: Developing a First Person Presentation This in-depth workshop will cover the basic skills needed to do effective living history interpretation. • Special Problems in Living History How to handle “problem” visitors, safety issues, working with the public, etc. • Research for Living Historians How to conduct good academic research to support programs and how to write an annotated bibliography.

At 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 31st the Fort Smith National Historic Site will have a free Union artillery programs. Park volunteers and staff dressed as Union soldiers will demonstrate firing a replica 1841 six pound cannon on the historic parade grounds. Come and learn how it took teamwork to be in the artillery in the 1800s and experience the smells and sounds of this fascinating part of our history. Fort Smith National Historic Site is located in downtown Fort Smith. To access the free parking lot from Garrison Avenue, turn south on 4th Street and west on Garland Avenue. For more information on the park, please call the park at 479-783-3961.

Kelly Jones speaks on the peculiar relationship between slavery and the law in Arkansas as part of our Brown Bag Lunch Lecture series. Bring your lunch; drinks will be provided. Admission: FREE

Collaborative Strategies: Educational Lines Meeting Interpretive Minds