Darby Challenge

Mark your Calendars! The Fort Smith Museum of History, The Darby House, and the City of Fort Smith proudly announce the inaugural Fort Smith General Darby Challenge, a ruck march and half marathon in honor of General William O. Darby and Fort Smith’s twin cities, Cisterna, Italy and Nago-Torbole, Italy. The Darby Challenge will take place this April at Cisterna Park in downtown Fort Smith. The Darby Challenge is a non-sanctioned, but timed half-marathon in length that can be rucked, run, or walked by participants on direct military orders, active and/or retired military, and all civilians. 

The Darby Challenge is in remembrance of General William O. Darby who was KIA on April 30, 1945 in Nago-Torbole, Italy. In April 2023, Nago-Torbole, Italy and Fort Smith, AR “twinned” in honor of their shared history of General William O. Darby. The Fort Smith General Darby Challenge will be an international twin city event, held the same weekend that Nago-Torbole, Italy holds their Col Darby 40 Mile Ranger Challenge. Both events honor the anniversary of General Darby’s death on April 30, 1945.