Model of Crystal Bridges Museum

Founded by Alice Walton, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is a LEED project which opened November 11, 2011, in Bentonville. The museum is a premier art institution dedicated to American art and artists, learning and community gatherings. The main pavilions house a permanent collection of American art masterworks from the colonial era to modern day, and touring collections from national art institutions. Visitors can enjoy the collection within the state-of-the-art galleries and throughout the surrounding park. A dynamic temporary exhibitions program complements the holdings of the permanent collection and exemplifies the diversity of American artists.

The museum takes its name from a natural spring on the museum’s wooded site as well as the unique glass-and-wood building design created by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie. The innovative building design – reflective of its forested creek-side home and linked by landscaped trails and paths connecting area neighborhoods – captures the interplay of nature, art and culture in the region. The museum property and grounds are within walking distance of the Bentonville town square.