We’re excited about Crystal Bridges Museum, which opened in nearby Bentonville last November. Nestled in a lovely natural setting, Crystal Bridges invites visitors to commune with art as much as nature.
Guests wander the trails (more than 3.5 miles of them) that meander through the 120-acre museum site. Trails lead through wetlands, over streams, and around ponds. The art here is nature, though sculptures are scattered throughout the grounds. Walk, bike, or find a peaceful place to sit and admire the view.
Inside the museum, permanent exhibits provide a superb overview of American Art. Crystal Bridges covers the Colonial period, the 19th Century, Modern American Art, and Contemporary American Art. Gaze at portraits of well known figures from our country’s past, such as George Washington. Stand before vast landscapes of the American West. See streetscapes by artists of the Ashcan School, and a good selection of Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art.
Current temporary exhibits include The North American Indian, by Edward Curtis, and The Arkansas Traveler, which explores an American folk story that’s an integral part of Arkansas’ mythology. Anyone unfamiliar with this aspect of Arkansas culture should find it intriguing.
Crystal Bridges Museum is approximately 40 miles from our Eureka Springs Bed and Breakfast. It’s a pleasant drive, whether you travel north of Beaver Lake or south of it.
