Gallery
Courtesy of the Fort Smith Public Library

Fort Smith High School was built and opened in September 1897. It was destroyed by the tornado of January 1898 and rebuilt. Nearly all of the original 1897 structure is gone, replaced by later construction of new wings and classrooms. After World War II, it was named Darby Junior High School in honor of William O. Darby, a Fort Smith native and founder of the modern Army Rangers.