Last updated: 12/25/2013
Bentonville, Arkansas
Address
600 Museum Way
Bentonville, AR 72712
phone: 479-418-5700
web: crystalbridges.org

Hours

Crystal Bridges Trails and Grounds are open from sunrise to sunset daily.
Tuesday
closed
Wednesday, Friday
11 AM - 9 PM
Monday, Thursday
11 AM - 6 PM
Sunday, Saturday
10 AM - 6 PM
The Lobby, Library, and Coffee Bar are open at 10 am.

Admissions

General admission to Crystal Bridges is sponsored by Walmart. There is no cost to view the Museum's permanent collection, which is on view year-round.

Free

Museum Type(s)

Art

Staff

Description

Located in the heart of the country in Bentonville, Arkansas, Crystal Bridges explores the unfolding history of America by collecting and exhibiting outstanding works of art that illuminate our artistic heritage and enrich our understanding and appreciation of our nation and ourselves.

Located on 120 acres of native Ozark forest, Crystal Bridges? grounds invite visitors to enjoy the natural environment as a continuation of their museum experience. The Museum's distinctive architecture immerses visitors in the landscape, while three miles of nature trails encourage exploration and reflection

Through our ever-expanding permanent collection of American art, temporary exhibitions, and a wide variety of entertaining and educational programs, Crystal Bridges has become an invaluable resource for our community, and a must-see attraction for tourists to Northwest Arkansas. In addition, a number of ground-breaking exhibition and education initiatives place Crystal Bridges at the forefront in scholarship and outreach innovation.

MANDARIN and SPANISH BROCHURES are available on the Museum's website.

Artifact Collections

The Crystal Bridges art collection offers a superb overview of American art including American masterworks as well as surprising, lesser-known gems from the Colonial era to contemporary work. Sculpture in the collection graces interior galleries and outdoor trails.

Educational Programs

Education is at the core of Crystal Bridges’ mission. The Museum offers year-round programming for all ages, including lectures, art-making workshops, films, gallery talks, and special events. An award-winning app available free from iTunes features audio tours of current and past temporary exhibitions, and many of the Museum’s lectures and gallery talks are included in Crystal Bridges’ iTunes U site, which also features interviews with curators, artists, and conservators. In addition, Crystal Bridges offers professional development for teachers and educational programming for K-12 school groups designed to fit with Common Core standards.

Facilities
Architecture

Nestled at the base of a natural ravine in the heart of the Ozark forest, Crystal Bridges was designed by architect Moshe Safdie to be both a complement and a counterpoint to the surrounding landscape. Rather than building at the edge of the ravine, overlooking the stream below, Safdie chose to let the landscape embrace the building, and make the springwater an integral part of the design. Two ponds were created with a series of weirs that manage the inflow from Town Branch Creek and nearby Crystal Spring. This natural spring, along with the striking glass and copper bridges that span the ponds, provided Crystal Bridges with its name.

Trails and Grounds

The trails and grounds of Crystal Bridges are a must-see part of the Museum experience. More than 3.5 miles of trails wind through the Museum’s 120-acre site, providing guests with access to the beautiful Ozark landscape. Designed to spark the imagination, the trails help guests form connections to the land and its history, as well as enjoy outdoor artworks.

Special Event Venues

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art features some of the most unique and elegant event venues in the region, offering facilities for a wide variety of events. Your guests can enjoy breathtaking views of the Crystal Bridges’ ponds and landscapes from the Museum’s Great Hall or Eleven, dance the night away on the spacious outdoor Walker Landing, or celebrate alongside the Art Trail on the Museum’s South Lawn, surrounded by native Ozark forest. Your guests also have the unique opportunity to experience the Museum’s breathtaking collection of American Art.

Yes, We Do Weddings; Lots of Weddings

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art features some of the most unique and elegant event venues in the region, offering wedding and reception packages for all sizes of events. Your guests can enjoy breathtaking views of Crystal Bridges’ ponds and landscapes from the glass-enclosed Great Hall or Eleven the Museum’s restaurant bridge, dance the night away on the spacious outdoor Walker Landing, or celebrate alongside the Art Trail on the Museum’s South Lawn, surrounded by native Ozark forest. Your guests also have the unique opportunity to experience the Museum’s breathtaking collection of American Art

Library

Crystal Bridges offers regular educational programs on a variety of topics, from historic documents, to artist books, to graphic novels.

The Library welcomes all researchers and guests during the Museum’s public hours. Special Collections and Archives are available for private viewing by appointment only.

Access: General Public, Students, Scholars, Members
Appointment required: No
Services
Welcome to Eleven

Eleven is the restaurant at Crystal Bridges. We specialize in modern American comfort food with an emphasis on traditions that hail from the “high South and low Midwest” region…the Ozarks. Our “edible responsibility” approach demonstrates our commitment to promoting and celebrating local food culture, featuring fresh ingredients from the Bentonville Farmers’ Market and other food artisans in Northwest Arkansas. The robust cuisine of Eleven not only nourishes, but also tells a story—inspired by the artworks, natural surroundings, and fascinating regional history connected to our Museum.

Our Store

Shop a selection of home decor by American designers such as Simon Pearce and Michael Aram, and a unique jewelry collection featuring designs by Dian Malouf and other trend-setters. The Museum Store also offers fine-art prints of some of the most popular works in Crystal Bridges’ permanent collection, and original works by the region’s finest artists. Contact us: 479-657-2310

Tours

Crystal Bridges offers several options for groups wishing to visit the Museum. Choose from several Guide-led experiences, or arrange for a self-guided visit for your group.

Membership: Best Deal in Arkansas

Members not only provide vital support to the programs and events at the Museum, they are part of our vital and growing Crystal Bridges community. Membership also has its perks, including discounts on events and programs, special Members-only previews of exhibitions, the option to join artinfusion, our young patrons group, and more!

Gift Shop
Online Gift Shop
Special Event Rental
Restaurant
Group Tours
ADA
Wheelchair Accessible
Parking
Restrooms
Exhibitions
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MUSEUM CONFERENCES

Public Lands Alliance 2025 Convention and Trade Show

February 2 - 6, 2025

Las Vegas, Nevada

Public Lands Alliance 2025 Convention and Trade Show

Sunday, February 2 - Thursday, February 6, 2025

Westgate Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada

Hosted by: Public Lands Alliance

The Public Lands Alliance Convention and Trade Show brings together nonprofits, land management agencies and companies to learn, network and engage on public lands issues. The 2025 Convention and Trade Show will take place Sunday, February 2 - Thursday, February 6, 2025 in Las Vegas, NV

Connect with peers, explore the latest in public lands products, and return inspired with new strategies and resources for success in conservation and visitor engagement

Our annual Convention and Trade Show (PLA) is the premier gathering for leaders in the public lands sector to network, gain essential tools, and explore products that enhance the visitor experience and support conservation, preservation, and enrichment efforts.

For more information, please call 301-946-9475.

Georgia Association of Museums 2025 Conference

February 5 - 7, 2025

Milledgeville, Georgia

Georgia Association of Museums 2025 Conference

Wednesday, February 5 - Friday, February 7, 2025

Ina Dillard Russell Library Georgia College & State University

Milledgeville, Georgia

Hosted by: Georgia Association of Museums

The Whole Story Is The Meanin

“For the fiction writer himself the whole story is the meaning, because it is an experience, not an abstraction.”― Flannery O'Connor, Mystery and Manners: Occasional Pros

Join us in Milledgeville, Georgia, for the annual Georgia Association of Museums conference as we explore the profound wisdom of Milledgeville author Flannery O'Connor’s words. In a world where narratives intersect and perspectives diverge, this theme invites proposals that delve into the essence of storytelling within museums and cultural institutions. Our work in the museum field requires us to look at stories from as many angles and perspectives as possible so that we might do our best to tell the “whole story.

Through thought-provoking discussions, interactive workshops, and engaging presentations, we will uncover the layers of meaning embedded within every artifact, exhibition, and historical account. Just as O’Connor masterfully crafted narratives that resonate with universal truths, museums hold the power to illuminate the whole story behind many objects, artworks, and cultural phenomena

We will examine how museums can embrace inclusivity, diversity, and authenticity in their storytelling practices. By acknowledging multiple perspectives and amplifying marginalized voices, we can enrich our understanding of the past and present, fostering empathy and connection within our communities.

Small Museum Association 41st Annual Conference 2025

February 17 - 19, 2025

Gaithersburg, Maryland

Small Museum Association 41st Annual Conference 2025

Monday, February 17 - Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center

Gaithersburg, Maryland

Hosted by: Small Museum Association

The annual SMA conference attracts more than 300 museum professionals, board members, and volunteers from a wide variety of small museums. They attend sessions on topics ranging from collections and education to staffing and board issues.

We offer a large Museum Resource Hall and plenty of informal networking opportunities for you to talk with (and get ideas from!) other small museum professionals and volunteers

Theme for 2025: Make It Happen!!!

Is there an exhibit, program, or fundraiser that you've been talking about doing for years? Do you feel stuck because of procrastination, lack of board support, or insufficient funds? It's time to take action

At SMA 2025, small museum professionals will share their tips and tricks of how they made it happen!

2025 California Association of Museums Conference

February 18 - 22, 2025

San Fransico, California

2025 California Association of Museums Conference

Tuesday, February 18 - Saturday, February 22, 2025

San Fransico, California

Hosted by: California Association of Museums

CAM is hard at work planning for the 2025 conference, set to take place from February 18–22, 2025 in San Francisco. We look forward to highlighting best practices and innovative ideas from California's museum community

The California Association of Museums is excited to continue offering in-person programming for 2025. We will not be requiring proof of COVID vaccination/s, but highly encourage vaccination and boosters. For the health and safety of our colleagues, masks are also encouraged (but not required). Capacity and spaces will be thoughtfully considered in the planning of this event.

For more information, please email programs@calmuseums.org.

2025 Tennessee Association of Museums Conference: HOPE

March 11 - 14, 2025

Knoxville, Tennessee

2025 Tennessee Association of Museums Conference: HOPE

Tuesday, March 11 - Friday, March 14, 2025

Crowne Plaza hotel in Knoxville, TN

Knoxville, Tennessee

Hosted by: Tennessee Association of Museums

Tennessee museums are full of hope. But how are they turning hope into reality

With the Semiquincentennial quickly approaching in 2026, the state's museum community if approaching a turning point, and is now a great time to take stock and develop a vision for the future

The Tennessee Association of Museums' 64th Annual Conference in Knoxville will challenge the state's museums to think ahead and share their hopes, the best practices and strategies for turning those hoes into realities, and the rewards that come from aspirational thinking

The 2025 TAM Annual Conference will take place at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Knoxville, TN.

For more information, please call 615-495-3354 or email hawkins@aaslh.org.

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