Crystal Bridges Beckon Visitors

"OH MY GOODNESS! THIS is unbelievable." Thousands of visitors just like me have, no doubt, uttered these words - or something similar - when the outside and inside of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art came into view for the first time. More than once during my visit I heard someone exclaim, "This is really mind-boggling."

Tucked away within the city limits of Bentonville, Arkansas, Crystal Bridges stands tall in comparison to any other museum in the nation. It is a $1.2 billion expenditure - not counting millions of additional dollars spent on works of art. The museum was a dream of Helen Walton, wife of Sam Walton the founder of Walmart. Although Helen passed away before seeing her dream brought to fruition, daughter Alice Walton has turned this dream into a stunning reality.

The Crystal Bridges Museum construction took place in a ravine of a mountainous area only blocks from downtown Bentonville. At the top of the crevasse are parking lots, the Museum's main entrance, and seven trails with lengths from 1/3 mile to 1 and a half miles.

Truly, the Museum's outside areas should not be missed - even if only for a short walk on one trail. The trail surfaces vary from paved for walking and biking, to crushed granite and soft surface for hiking. Levels of difficulty range from gentle slope, to moderate slope, to moderate slope with steps. Along the way hikers and bikers can see breath-taking beauty including sculptures, rock formations, colonies of serviceberry and wild hydrangeas, dogwood trees, pine trees and Eastern red cedars, a natural spring, cone flowers, American basket flowers, black-eyed susans, gardens, and birds-eye views of the Museum campus down below.

An elevator at the main entrance takes visitors down to the bottom of the ravine where the Museum's striking inside facilities await. An inter-connected series of seven "bridges" hovering over reflective waterways await each visitor. Facilities included are: an entry courtyard; the museum store; the main lobby; "Eleven," the museum restaurant and snack shop; a community showcase; reflection rooms; the "Great Hall;" a library; and "Walker's Landing." And then, the several galleries of magnificent art - hundreds upon hundreds of masterpieces.

The inaugural presentation of the Museum's collection celebrates the American spirit. The works are arranged roughly chronologically with a focus on thematic groupings and stylistic affinities. The idea is to tell the story of America's history as seen by its artists. Periods include Colonial to Early Nineteenth-Century Art; Late Nineteenth Century Art; Early Twentieth-Century Art; and Twentieth-Century Art. In addition, temporary exhibitions or traveling works of art, art studios, and function rooms are also housed in the complex. Deep underground is an area for the safe storage of additional art available for rotation in the galleries.

The architecture of Crystal Bridges was designed by Moshe Safdie with a flavor of the style of Frank Lloyd Wright. It integrates the Museum's buildings into their natural setting, forming literal bridges within the landscape to encourage and inspire opportunities for personal connection between the Museum's visitors, art, and nature.

This very special and unusually unique Museum houses many works of art by American masters. Further, the Museum itself, and its surrounding grounds, are also masterpieces. The native Ozark forested grounds, and the physical facilities, are as much a part of the total experience as the art inside.

There's no doubt whatsoever that the Crystal Bridges beckon visitors! Upon leaving, after being there several hours, it was not difficult to overhear other visitors saying the same thing that I was thinking: "We must return. There was just not enough time to see everything." The good news is that the Museum and grounds are open year-round (except for Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day) each day of the week (except for Tuesdays) with no entry fees.

Treat yourself to this genuine gem of the Ozarks. Treat yourself to a leisure experience you will not forget. From my perspective, you will not walk away disappointed.
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-- Further information is available at 479-418-5700 or http://crystalbridges.org