With 50,000 residents, the Ozark Mountain-adjacent town of Bentonville, Arkansas might not be a household name on its own, though one of its biggest names might be. You’ll find the beginnings of the Walmart Corporation right here in Northwest Arkansas. Even if that isn’t a draw for you, this scenic area is certainly one worth visiting. 

Despite its size, Bentonville Arkansas is easy to get to by plane or a drive over from a series of metropolitan areas, like Dallas, Oklahoma City, Little Rock, and even St. Louis. Those treks range from around three hours to just shy of six, so a long weekend or longer stay is easily doable in Bentonville.

Ready to learn more? Here are 14 things to do in Bentonville AR that you don’t want to miss!

CRYSTAL BRIDGES MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART

“The mission of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is to welcome all to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature,” according to the museum’s website.

Opened in 2011, this world-class free museum celebrates all things art, along with the beauty the Ozarks region has to offer. The name “Crystal Bridges” is derived from a nearby natural spring, combined with the bridge, which was built by well-known architect, Moshe Safdie.

The collection at Crystal Bridges currently showcases over 500 years worth of American artwork, which includes highlighting underrepresented artists. Some of the work seen here includes Marsden Hartley’s “Hall of the Mountain King,” Charles Willson Peale’s “George Washington” portrait, John Singer Sargent’s “Robert Louis Stevenson and His Wife,” Louise Bourgeois’ “Maman,” and Edmonia Lewis’ “The Old Arrow Maker,” among many others. 

Throughout the year, Crystal Bridges highlights different artistic modes or themes through a series of temporary exhibits. Since opening in 2011, those exhibits have run the gamut from topics such as American Encounters: Thomas Cole and the Narrative Landscape to Changing Perspectives of Native Americans.

In addition to the museum itself, there are pieces outside to peruse as well. Besides Crystal Bridges, their satellite location, The Momentary, is a contemporary art space for visual, performing and culinary arts in downtown Bentonville. This space is a way to expand the museum’s offerings to the general public, in addition to being a place for festivals, performances and other public programming....

FULL ARTICLE HERE

Posted on September 25th, 2022, by 365 Traveler