Fort Smith was a major staging point where wagons, teams of mules and provisions were sold to folks headed west in search of gold. From Fort Smith, they could go north and follow the Overland Trail or south by the Butterfield Trail. Hundreds of area residents set out for the gold fields, and more than a half century later, it was even thought for a while there was gold in Rogers.

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It's just going to be a tremendous year.

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