“More than what I expected,” was the comment made by Jonathan Portis, brother of the author of True Grit, Charles Portis, when he participated in the launch of the first True Grit Trail exhibit on Friday, March 25.

Those attending comprised a “who’s who” of Arkansas lawmakers, tourism experts, and fundraisers:

• Carolyn Joyce, the “First Lady of Arkansas Tourism”

• Judge Jim Spears, the force behind the US marshal Museum and numerous statues in Fort Smith

• Dardanelle Mayor Jimmy Witt

• Yell County Judge Mark Thone

• State Representative Mary Bentley, responsible for creating the True Grit Trail

• State Senator Breanne Davis

• State Representative Marcus Richmond

• Caroline Speir, director of the Fort Smith Museum of History

More than a hundred attendees stood wall to wall in the exhibit, eventually overflowing to adjoining rooms in the library. Miklyn McIntyre, the young actress chosen to portray Mattie Ross, the heroine and main character of the book, was introduced just before the ribbon cutting ceremony sponsored by the Dardanelle Area Chamber of Commerce. As the exhibit was being presented, the True Grit Trail Posse announced it would be moving to the Paris Library later this Spring, and a new True Grit Trail exhibit would be coming to the Dardanelle Library. Exhibits will also be coming to the Charleston Library and the Fort Smith Museum of History. Additional components of the True Grit Trail theme will be coming to Dardanelle and communities in the Arkansas River Valley.