Thinkwell Congratulates The U.S. Marshals Museum on a Successful Opening

New National Museum Designed and Produced by Thinkwell Is Dedicated to Telling the Story of the Nation’s Oldest Law Enforcement Agency

FORT SMITH, Ark., July 06, 2023 — Thinkwell Group (A TAIT Company), a leading design and production agency creating immersive, content-driven experiences for brands and companies around the world, celebrates the opening of The U.S. Marshals Museum (USMM) in Fort Smith, Arkansas, a highly interactive and engaging museum experience that tells the story of the Marshals.The museum is located on the historic banks of the Arkansas River where legendary deputy Marshals such as Bass Reeves and the Three Guardsmen once crossed from the Federal court in Fort Smith into the western territories, bringing law and justice to the frontier.

“The story of the U.S. Marshals is the story of America–of struggling to live up to the ‘glorious promise’ of the Constitution,” says Cynthia Sharpe, Senior Principal at Thinkwell and Executive Creative Director on the project. “We had to create a space in which guests could engage with some really challenging moments in the nation’s history, but also balance it with the fun and larger-than-life stories of the U.S. Marshals Service.”

Six immersive exhibit zones populate the 53,000 square foot (4926 sq./m) star-shaped building, which is inspired by the shape of the U.S. Marshals badge. These six zones showcase the Marshals’ vital work in upholding the rule of law, driven by justice, integrity and service. The central hub of the museum features a flickering campfire scene where four Marshals from different eras retell key milestones of the U.S. Marshals’ history.

Other exhibit highlights include a recreation of an old west frontier town featuring a historically accurate U.S. Marshal’s office and saloon where guests learn the story of the first U.S. Marshals appointed by President Washington as they turn the pages of “The First Lawmen” interactive book. Inside the saloon, guests have the opportunity to play the interactive “Icons of the Old West” card game as well as engage with the friendly bartender. When learning about the work and training of the agency today, guests participate in the “To Carry a Badge” interactive fugitive chase simulation, which is inspired by real training technologies used by the Marshals and other U.S. law enforcement agencies.

“It’s the attention to detail that sets The U.S. Marshals Museum apart,” said Chuck Roberts, senior art director at Thinkwell. “It paints a vivid, living picture of the oft-unknown history of the Marshals. To bring a story like this to life with the latest design thinking and an innovative approach to the media and digital interactives has been a special achievement for our global teams, and we are thrilled to now share this work with the public.”

The USMM officially opened to the public on Saturday, July 1, 2023. For more information, please visit usmmuseum.org.