Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Permanent Collections
Regional museums offer something for everyone
Northwest Arkansas enjoys museums that collect and interpret art, history, politics, retail and more. Here are some of them:
Bentonville MUSEUM OF NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY
The Museum of Native American History invites visitors to walk through America’s past. From the woolly mammoth skeleton that greets guests at the front door, to rare Mississippian head pots, to art and artifacts from the early reservation period, the museum’s authentic collection gives a glimpse into the richly diverse cultural history of the first Americans.
WHEN — 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday
Saturday
WHERE — 202 S.W. O St.
COST — Free
INFO — 273-2456; monah.us
CRYSTAL BRIDGES MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART
The mission of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is to welcome all to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature.
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art opened to the public on 11-11-11, and was founded in 2005 by the Walton Family Foundation as a nonprofit charitable organization for all to enjoy. Philanthropist and arts patron Alice Walton chairs the museum’s board of directors.
Since its opening, the museum has welcomed 3.5 million visitors, and garnered 15,000 membership households. Some 200,000 school children have participated in the museum’s Willard and Pat Walker School Visit program, which provides educational experiences for school groups at no cost to the schools. More than 300,000 visitors a year utilize the museum’s 4 miles of
walking trails.
WHEN — 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday & Sunday; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Wednesday-Friday; closed Tuesday
WHERE — 600 Museum Way COST — Admission to the permanent collection is always free
INFO — 418-5700; crystalbridges.org
CURRENT EXHIBITS — “Not to Scale,” several drawings, models, and concept sketches from the recently acquired Buckminster Fuller Fly’s Eye Dome Archive, through March; “All or Nothing,” works from Crystal Bridges’ permanent collection that utilize black and white to focus on elements such as composition, detail, and spatial relationships, through May. See Museums Page 40 Elva Barker Martin loved cats and frequently posed with them when photographed. This image from Pettigrew in the early 1920s is part of the current “Creatures Great and Small” at the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History in Springdale. The museum has more than half a million images in its collection, from the 1850s to present day. Topics include agriculture, businesses, sports, homes, transportation, people, special events, military, religion, government, and the lumber and poultry industries. The museum collects images and artifacts from the six counties of Northwest Arkansas (Benton, Boone, Carroll, Madison, Newton, and Washington). Not only do twiceyearly photo exhibits showcase the breadth of the collection, once they close they turn into online exhibits on the museum’s website.
PEEL MANSION MUSEUM & HERITAGE GARDENS
The Peel Mansion serves as a living display of the Victorian period and tells the story of a prominent early Bentonville family. Their vision is to inspire the community to explore and appreciate the story of this early Bentonville historic mansion.
WHEN — 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday for the museum and gift shop; 7 a.m.-4 p.m. for the grounds WHERE — 400 S. Walton Blvd.
COST — $2 children; $5 adults
INFO — 254-3870; peelcompton.org UPCOMING — Native Tree and Plant Sale, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. April 28, Compton Gardens.
WALMART MUSEUM
Located on the downtown square in Bentonville, the museum features Walton’s 5&10, a world-class exhibit gallery and The Spark Cafe Soda Fountain. First opened in 1990, the museum was known as the Walmart Visitor Center. But as times changed and the term “Visitor Center” came to refer more to regional, state and local tourism offices, it became apparent that a name change was needed. And so, today, The Walmart Museum carries on the mission it always has: to educate, engage and inspire visitors about the heritage of Walmart. WHEN — 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday; noon-9 p.m. Sunday
WHERE — 105 N. Main St.
COST — Free
INFO — 273-1329; WmtMuseum@Walmart.com
BONUS — The Spark Cafe Soda Fountain serves Spark Cream, custommade ice cream in Walmart colors of blue and yellow.
SCOTT FAMILY AMAZEUM
The Scott Family Amazeum is a hands-on, interactive museum for children and families located in Bentonville. A museum with a foundation in the arts and sciences, the Amazeum encourages creativity, curiosity and community through exhibits, educational collaboration and programs, workshops and camps. Amazeum experiences include a climbable tree canopy, indoor cave, tinkering hub, nearly one acre of outdoor space and ever-evolving daily pop-up activities. WHEN — 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday; 1-5 p.m. Sunday; closed Tuesdays WHERE — 1009 Museum Way
COST — $9.50 all ages
INFO — 696-9280; amazeum.org COMING SOON — “Hot Wheels: Race to Win” exhibit presented by Mattel opens at noon Jan. 27 at the Scott Family Amazeum. Race fans, car enthusiasts and fans of Mattel’s Hot Wheels of all ages will love this interactive exhibit created by the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. Admission is included in daily admission or membership.
Rogers ROGERS HISTORICAL MUSEUM
Northwest Arkansas history museum with children’s area and 1895 Hawkins house, the museum is in the middle of a renovation and relocation that will
add both gallery and educational space. WHEN — Closed until summer
WHERE — 322 S. Second St.
COST — Free
INFO — 621-1154
BONUS — “While we are closed our community exhibits at the Adult Wellness Center, Rogers Public Library, Center for Non-profits, and the Promenade Mall will remain open to the public and will be rotated every three months as usual,” says assistant director Terrilyn Wendling. “Our educators will continue to go to the classrooms across Northwest Arkansas teaching students; and we will gladly give talks to any community group that is interested. The research library, in the Key Wing, will be available upon request and availability will depend on our construction schedule.”
DAISY AIRGUN MUSEUM
The Daisy Airgun Museum is a nonprofit corporation which preserves and promotes vintage products and artifacts of the historic Daisy company while serving as a national tourism destination for Daisy fans and collectors. WHEN — 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday WHERE — 202 W. Walnut St.
COST — $2 for ages 16 and older
INFO — 986-6873; daisymuseum.com MEMBERSHIP — The museum depends on Friends of the Daisy Airgun Museum for “guidance, suggestions and financial support.” Members get first chances at special merchandise.
Springdale SHILOH MUSEUM OF OZARK HISTORY
The Shiloh Museum of Ozark History is a regional history museum focusing on the Northwest Arkansas Ozarks. The museum takes its name from the pioneer community of Shiloh, which became Springdale in the 1870s.
Most of what you’ll see at the museum highlights the real shapers of Ozark history — the everyday men, women and children who lived in our towns and rural communities. Along with exhibits, you can explore six historic buildings on the museum grounds. They also have a research library with a collection of over 500,000 photographs of Ozark life. WHEN — 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday WHERE — 118 W. Johnson Ave.
COST — Free
INFO — 750-8165 or shilohmuseum.org CURRENT EXHIBITS — “Marketing Magic,” an exhibit featuring historic advertising memorabilia in the museum’s collections, through Feb. 17; and “Creatures Great and Small,” a photo exhibit exploring Ozark animals as companions, guides, food providers, laborers, athletes, wildlife and modes of transportation, through May 12.
Fayetteville ARKANSAS AIR & MILITARY MUSEUM
Follow the colorful history of aviation in Arkansas and American military conflicts through numerous displays of original artifacts and aviation memorabilia. The historic aircraft in the Arkansas Air & Military Museum are unusual among museum exhibits, because many of them still fly. Static displays at the museum range from the golden age of aviation to the jet age, including Vietnam-era Army helicopters and a Navy carrier fighter. The vast, all-wood white hangar, which houses its part of Arkansas and American history, is a former headquarters for one of the United States’ many aviator training posts during World War II.
WHEN — 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday;
11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sunday-Friday WHERE — 4290 S. School Ave.
COST — $5 ages 6-12; $9 seniors & military; $10 adults
INFO — 521-4947; arkansasairandmilitary.com
BONUS — The vast, all-wood white hangar, which houses the museum, was headquarters for one of the United States’ many aviator training posts during World War II.
CLINTON HOUSE MUSEUM
The Clinton House Museum and its collections interpret the lives of President Bill Clinton and Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton during the time they lived in Fayetteville and occupied the home at 930 W. Clinton Drive. With its range of programs, exhibits, and special events, the museum promotes the legacy of the Clintons’ commitment to public service and civic engagement for international, national and local visitors as well as preserves the historic home and its role in Fayetteville, Arkansas history. WHEN — 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday; 1-5 p.m. Sunday; closed Wednesdays WHERE — 930 W. Clinton Drive
COST — Donations welcome
INFO — 444-0066 or clintonhousemuseum.org
BONUS — The museum is part of the “Billgrimage,” an Arkansas passport featuring the four Clinton cities — Hope, Hot Springs, Little Rock and Fayetteville. The passport has information about Clinton sight seeing opportunities in these cities. At each of the four locations you will get your passport stamped with a unique stamp representing that site.
HEADQUARTERS HOUSE
During the Civil War this home, then belonging to Jonas March Tebbetts, was the headquarters for both the Union and Confederate armies. Today it is the headquarters for the Washington County Historical Society.
WHEN — Individual tours of Headquarters House and its grounds are available during office hours, 1-4 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday
WHERE — 118 E. Dickson St.
COST — Free
INFO — 521-2970; washcohistoricalsociety.org
BONUS — Arrange for a tour of the
home by calling 521-2970.
Fort Smith CLAYTON HOUSE
The Clayton House is an historic house museum in Fort Smith’s Belle Grove Historic District. It is the former home of William Henry Harrison Clayton, federal prosecutor in Judge Parker’s famed court, and his family. The house was saved from the wrecking ball in 1969 and after a sevenyear restoration project, was returned to its Victorian grandeur. The home is furnished with period antiques and a few of the Clayton Family’s prized possessions. The Clayton House serves as a living history book of Fort Smith’s Victorian past. WHEN — Noon-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; 1-4 p.m. Sunday; other times by appointment
WHERE — 514 N. Sixth St.
COST — $3 students; $5 seniors; $6 adults
INFO — 783-3000; claytonhouse.org BONUS — The Clayton House is an anchor of the Belle Grove Historic District, 22 blocks listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
FORT SMITH MUSEUM OF HISTORY
The mission of the Fort Smith Museum of History is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of Fort Smith and the surrounding region. The museum was established in 1910.
WHEN — 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; open 1-5 p.m. Sunday June-August WHERE — 320 Rogers Ave.
COST — $2 children; $5 military; $7 adults INFO — 783-7841; fortsmithmuseum.org BONUS — Established in 1910, the museum is housed in the 1906 Atkinson-Williams Warehouse, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
FORT SMITH REGIONAL ART MUSEUM
The Fort Smith Regional Art Museum is a nonprofit organization charged with the responsibility of fostering art appreciation in the community through diverse exhibitions, educational programming, dynamic events and cultural partnerships.
WHEN — 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; 1-5 p.m. Sunday; closed Mondays WHERE — 1601 Rogers Ave.
COST — General admission is always
free
INFO — 784-2787; fsram.org CURRENT EXHIBITS — “Bonfire: Barbara Cade,” through Feb. 11; “My Future Fort Smith,” an exhibit by students throughout the region as part of the Fort Smith bicentennial, through March 30.
Please send additions to this list, which will run monthly, to bmartin@nwadg.com.