Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Arkansas, United States

5AtlantaDrummer 5:00 PM Nov 10, 2020

The best free museum on earth!
My wife and I visited on the suggestion from the proprietor of the Inn where we stayed. We could not believe such a beautiful facility full of every kind of art was FREE to attend. There is art from a plethora of famous (Charles Willson Peale, Norman Rockwell, Alexander Calder, and Dale Chihuly to name a few) as well as not so famous artists whose work is incredible. It isn't just paintings either. This is a truly unique museum and the facility itself is a work of art in its own right. If you are within 50 miles of Bentonville, Arkansas, I strongly recommend you find some time to add this to your itinerary. It is absolutely breathtaking!

5Alice K 5:00 PM Jun 15, 2021

WOW ..... Beyond any possible expectations.
A friend of mine recommended that we visit this museum. She was worried that she had spoken so favorably about it over the years that it would seem as though she had "oversold" it. After having been here, I told her it would be impossible to oversell this. It is magnificent and totally awe inspiring. We spent two hours in the early morning (to beat the heat) from 8 - 10 a.m. walking on the trails. The sculptures along the trails are fabulous and diverse in nature. The trails are on beautifully treed and flowered grounds. The trails are perfectly paved and kept in perfect condition. There are benches located frequently along the way. There are also bathrooms along the trails. I envy the "locals" who have this available to them, at no cost, to do their daily walks. Truly a gift for all to enjoy. At 10 a.m. we then went inside to enjoy the architecture and art of this overwhelmingly beautiful facility. It's truly beyond my ability to describe in a way that would do it justice. We were lucky to participate in a tour offered, for free, by docent, Sarah. We learned so much more and were able to appreciate the history, architecture, and process of Crystal Bridges more completely than if we hadn't taken her tour. I would recommend that before you explore the building, you go to the lower level to see the architectural model of CB so that you can appreciate the layout of the building and grounds. Also, there are two separate, informative "apps" to download to use during your visit. The "inside" app is narrated by Alice Walton, herself. I have been to at least 100 art museums in the world and I would say that this surpasses all fo them in it's "total" impact. In closing, you will LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this place. It's magical. What a generous heart Alice Walton has. I look forward to returning to visit from Wisconsin or Arizona.