Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

Painting of a bear and fallen hunter.
“A Tight Fix — Bear Hunting, Early Winter,” oil on canvas by Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait, 1856, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Photography by Amon Carter Museum of American Art.

The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art opened in 2011 in Bentonville and continues to add new works and temporary exhibits. The general collection, which is organized by century, is open and free to the public. Each century’s worth of art leads to the next and winds up at the museum’s restaurant, Eleven, which is worth the visit by itself.

Along with the many paintings and sculptures inside the museum, the grounds are full of outdoor sculpture, and one of the most recent acquisitions is a Frank Lloyd Wright house that was disassembled and rebuilt on the museum grounds. The Bachman-Wilson House is free but access is limited, so call ahead for reservations to see it if you’re interested in Wright and architecture.

crystal-bridges-art-of-danceSpecial exhibitions rotate in and out about every three months. Tickets for the special exhibitions usually cost something for non-members.

The museum also offers a variety of programs, classes and lectures. Check the programs page to see if anything interests you that weekend.