Walmart Museum celebrates 25 years

Bentonville’s main street was reminiscent of the 1950s as families ate ice cream cones, hula hooped and showed off their twist dance moves while celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Walmart Museum on Saturday.

The museum since May 1990 has been telling the story of the company’s rise from a Bentonville mom and pop shop to the nation’s and eventually world’s leading retailer.

“It is the story of entrepreneurship and drive,” said Alan Dranow, Walmart Heritage Group senior director. He said the story is educational and inspirational.

The museum located at 105 N. Main St. originally opened as the Walmart Visitor Center, Dranow said. He said it was focused on teaching Walmart associates about the company. It also was used as a recruiting tool.

“We found out over the years that everyone hungers for a story like this,” Dranow said.

Sam Walton’s personal items were brought into the collection following his death in 1992, Dranow said. He said a 1979 custom Ford F-150 quickly became a symbol of Walton’s values.

“He was humble,” Dranow said. “He didn’t have a limo.”

The story of the truck has grown into legendary proportions, Dranow said. He said, at times, spontaneous lines form in the museum as visitors wait to touch the truck’s door handle.

“Legend has it, if you touch the door handle you will be rewarded with the gift of frugality,” Dranow said.

Melanie Moncur, of Bella Vista, reached for the truck’s door handle Saturday after hearing of the legend.

“She is already frugal,” Charla Woodbury, Moncur’s mother, said in response.

Moncur was showing the museum to Woodbury, of Ankeny, Iowa.

“It is really interesting,” Moncur said. “It was fun to see the store because it is exactly the way stores looked when I was a kid. The boxes and even the way they are put on the shelves.”

The store and soda fountain shop is located in the front of the museum where the Walton’s 5& 10 first opened in 1950. Dranow said the store and shop give visitors an idea of what businesses would have looked like during this time period.

There was a soda fountain shop located in the building previously, Dranow said.

“It was something Sam bonded with Alice over,” Dranow said. “I know it has brought back very good memories for Alice.”

Anna Dean, 12, bonded with family Saturday as she first learned how to do the twist from her mother. “I have never done the twist before,” Anna said. “It was fun.”

Anna twisted her hips with a crowd of about 40 to songs such as Twist and Shout. Another girl swayed back and forth while holding her dog. In the back, a man tasted an ice cream cone while swinging the arms of his toddler daughter.

“We are here to be a part of the community,” Dranow said. “Our mission is to engage, inspire and educate.”

“Legend has it, if you touch the door handle [of Sam Walton’s truck] you will be rewarded with the gift of frugality.”

Alan Dranow, Walmart Heritage Group senior director

NWA Democrat-Gazette/J.T. WAMPLER Students from Helen Tyson Middle School peer Wednesday into Sam Walton’s office that was preserved as it was when he died and moved to the Walmart Museum.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/J.T. WAMPLER Buddy Yingst, left, jokes Wednesday with Nathan and Marcela Carmichael at Walton’s 5&10 gift shop which in front of the Walmart Museum in downtown Bentonville. The Carmichaels were visiting the museum from Youngsville, La. For photo galleries, go to...

NWA Democrat-Gazette/J.T. WAMPLER The Walmart Museum, known as the Walmart Visitor Center until 2012, is seen Wednesday. The museum features Walton’s 5&10 gift shop and the Spark Cafe Soda Fountain, giving visitors the experience of stepping back in time.