Although we haven’t been to all of the major art museums, there’s no doubt in my mind that the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art (Bentonville, Arkansas) is a true national treasure.  Alice Walton, the daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton, funded much of the museum, which opened in 2011. She is currently the second wealthiest woman in the world, and she spared no expense with this museum.  This isn’t just “a” museum though.  It’s really a campus of art and learning, and new buildings were being constructed during our visit so it is bound to be even bigger and better.  

There’s so much to do at Crystal Bridges that visitors should plan on 1-3 days (yes, I said “DAYS”) to truly appreciate the museum.  The building itself, designed by renouned architect Moshe Safdie, is a work of art! The entrance is intentionally unassuming, but then wow…..this is nature-centric architecture at its best.

To really get a feel for what Crystal briges has to offer, check out our video on Crystal Bridges above.

Crystal Bridges Outdoor Collection

For nature lovers, the outdoor attractions are a must-see.   During our multiple visits in the fall of 2022, we enjoyed the “Architecture at Home” exhibition, the Bachman-Wilson house (a Frank Lloyd Wright home originally built in New Jersey), and the outdoor sculpture walk.  Those activities were all free.

Fun Fact: In 2020, the sculpture garden paid homage to Alice Walton’s dog, Good Friday. Alice is quoted as saying: ““if we could all listen and be as sensitive as dogs are to our needs and emotions, the world would be a better place.”  There was something about the simplicity and honesty of this work that made it one of my favorites.

For an extra fee, the museum offered a nighttime light and sound display on the museum’s trails. We had already experienced the “North Forest Lights” on a prior visit in 2019, we opted to forego “Listening Forest” in 2022 (~$22/person). However, the light display really is something worth experiencing and paying for.

Crystal Bridges Indoor Collection

Most of Crystal Bridge’s indoor collection is free to view as well.  The collection is vast enough that some aspect will probably appeal to most folks.  There’s familiar works like Flag by Jasper Johns, No. 210/211 (Orange) by Mark Rothko, and White Flower No. 1 by Georgia O'Keeffe.  Much of the museum’s collection is not on display, and the new buildings will hopefully offer a new home to many of those works. 

For me, the highlight of Crystal Bridges was the museum’s “We the People” temporary exhibit. Talk about a true bucket list experience!   Here, the history books came to life.   On display were the Articles of Confederation (1777), a “facsimile” of the Declaration of Independence commissioned by John Quincy Adams (1820), a first edition of the Constitution (1778), a draft Bill of Rights with 17 amendments (1789), the Federalist Papers by John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison (1787), Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation (1863), and the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery (1865).  I was simply in awe. I read about these documents in grade school.  I studied them in law school.   And now, here they were in front of me.  How much did I love this exhibit? I visited the museum on another occasion just to see these amazing documents again!

Because I was in a patriotic mood during my visits to Crystal Bridges, my favorite piece of art was the “Monument to the Constitution of the United States” by Sandow Birk.  The text of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights are brought to life in this drawing with a sense of humor, and I actually giggled out loud when I noticed the Supreme Court next to Tacos Supreme and the White House right by the House of Pancakes.

The musuem has a gift shop, restaurant (the “Eleven”), coffee bar, an area for kids to get artsy as well. On one of our visits, we decided to try the Eleven burger (two patties, sharp white cheddar, pickled red onion, tomato, BBQ-spiced mayo on a brioche bun) with french fries (small “f” because we are AMERICAN - ha ha!), which were quite tasty.

I will forever tout Crystal Bridges to anyone who is visiting Northwest Arkansas. Each time I visit, I come away inspired. If you haven’t been, go. If you have been, go again.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.