Crystal Bridges Museum is an absolute gem of northwest Arkansas. Each piece, exhibit, and event is carefully planned and placed. I highly recommend a membership to Crystal Bridges, but general admission is free to the public. Be sure to grab a bite at the restaurant and enjoy the views! I also walked the trails around the Museum and they were beautiful. Be sure to check out the special events during the year, especially summer. Highly recommend if you are in the area.
The museum is great and has many wonderful pieces. Visitors are doing a good job wearing masks while in the building. Their bathrooms are clean and facility is well kept. I knocked down a star because staff at the Night Forest exhibit seemed mostly unaware how to direct people and seemed slightly annoyed when asked questions. I would recommend the Night Forest exhibit. This was a great date spot. The trails are accessible. We went after 9 and it was mostly cleared out of families and had an adult vibe. Pro tip: bring a blanket and sit under the globe on the wooden benches. Its very relaxing and comfortable.
If you’re tired from shredding the trails all day in Bentonville I highly recommend you go to the Crystal Bridges museum. The architecture and the grounds of this place are simply stunning. Built on a beautiful park, this museum has something for everyone. It is very easy to go through as it is mainly a straightforward one way museum experience. This allowed us to get through it efficiently while still enjoying all the beautiful art. The museum is laid out in chronological order then gets a little wonky as you get more into modern and abstract art pieces, which makes sense. The grounds here are also beautiful and there are many outdoor sculptures to see as well. Don’t forget to stop by the Eleven Cafe for a coffee and a bakery item. All in all, me and the wife loved this museum.
Wow! This is the second year to attend the North Forest Lights. This review is about this event. This is a great way to walk off dinner as you are lead around a concrete path to view several night time pieces of active art. The artists have created interesting displays that are thematically connected to each other in the spirit of earth. Each display attempts to show how mature and earth share a common voice using lights throughout the forest. There is a center court where you can get wine and cocoa and warm by the tall firepit. To finish off the tour, you can talk to a tree that will reveal your earth color. Its a really fun and relaxing way to enjoy the evening during the holiday season.
This museum is a fabulous combination of beautiful architecture housing an amazing collection of art. When I went there was also an Ansel Adams exhibit which was perfect! So glad someone in Little Rock recommended I come here while on my road trip. Highly recommend!
Loved the light show! We went on a Saturday and it wasn’t really crowded. The lights were beautiful and definitely worth the money for a neat experience and fun date night. They were a little too strict with COVID precautions making everyone wear a mask outside despite how far you were from other people that were not in your group.
Its a really good place to spend time with your family and friends. There is an outdoor trail you can walk. Admission to museum is free. But because of the covid you must have online tickets.
Very clean and very beautiful. I would love to go back during the day, so I can explore the outdoor exhibits they have to offer. The workers are a little bossy, but I guess they have to be when there is millions of dollars worth of art in one place.
The museum itself demonstrates unique architecture with pretty trails around. You can spend hours enjoying arts inside or hike on different trails, breathing fresh air in a beautiful autumn afternoon. Make sure to reserve online before coming. Also front entry is under construction.
Great. Such a good way to get out of the house. Be prepared to walk slower and just enjoy it instead of rushing through. Factor about 2-3 hrs that way. We made it in an hour. At the whispering tree just know you are going to wait a long time in line. But if you go ahead and go to the village the back side of the tree has spots to sit and watch or if you want to take your picture there in between the people waiting in line... it’s just as good of a picture and you get to watch the tree.. better view. Plus food n drinks.The last installation you get to see have someone (the guide) video you from the top of the hill walking across the bridge while lights are on. Great to share.
We visited the north forest and enjoyed it thoroughly! Its a short walk to the main exhibits but the Crystal Bridges crew helped out grandma with a golf cart ride and wheelchair so she could enjoy the lights and sounds with us without having to hoof it.
This is the perfect combination of art, architecture, and nature. Absolutely beautiful museum and grounds with lots of trails. Definitely visit if you are in NW Arkansas. And also visit its sister museum, The Momentary.
Probably the best art museum Ive ever been to. Plus the general admission is free. I would recommend taking all day to explore everything they have. I spent 4 hours here and felt like I missed a lot. I will definitely be going back to visit soon. Even if you are not in the area it is worth a long trip to see this masterpiece.
Beautiful museum. Good flow. Attention to detail inside & out. Many exterior pieces are intended to be visible from inside & are so impactful.Heading back for the Night Forest exhibit next month.
My wife and I visited and were so impressed with the quality of art, the outdoor displays, the entire experience was amazing. To view a Frank Lloyd Wright home in person was a huge bonus. I will being friends and family next time.
The outside trails and sculptures are beautifully place around a lake and creek. The architecture is so nicely blended with the land. There is a relocated Frank Loyd Wright house to enjoy as well.
My wife and I have been here three times now. One te was during some festival and parking was crazy. Tonight, we went to see a special event, North Forest Lights. We have also been here for the Chihuly display. The workers are always nice, everything is clean, and the exhibits are great. Every time weve been here, the art on display was changed enough to be a new experience. The architecture of the place is great, I love the dining hall at night especially. Only negative I have is that the gift shop is priced out of my range, however there are some really nice items, as well as items from Ozarks artists.
Wonderful art collection. Great nature trails. Eleven Restaurant had scrumptious food. Friendly & helpful staff throughout.
Get your tickets, watch the weather and get ready for a unique experience. With every penny. Be sure to take your time at each exhibit. Enjoyed the rest for a drink midway.
Came to see North Forest Lights... Loved it! Beautiful museum grounds, and an outdoor nighttime exhibit really played to the strengths of the location.
This is a must visit before you die. Amazing gallery in Arkansas? Who would have thought those hillbillies had it in them. They showed me and the rest of the world.
Such a beautiful museum and a great way to spend the day! The outdoor area was stunning and the art was spectacular. Each and every exhibit was put together so nicely! Totally worth spending a few hours here.
Great museum inside and out. Lots of walking trails around the wooded grounds that are dotted with art installations tucked within the trees.The yearly Northern Lights exhibit is a must see as well.
This museum doesnt get old. Every time I visit theyve rotated their collections, added a new exhibit, or provided fresh and exciting entertainment options or programs for the community. The artwork is diverse in form and aesthetic, and they also present it in a very organized and enjoyable way. Admission is free for most of the museum, and the temporary exhibits can be visited for a heavily-reduced ticket price. You really cant lose!
Excellent. Free parking and tickets. A lot of things to do. Spend a whole day well. Not only the museum that its design is great. There are several paths with sculptures and many things to do. Make sure you get to know the town of Bentonville. The best measures regarding the covid. Hand gel everywhere. Distancing In general very safe and complying with all measures. I loved
Loved the lights and music along the North Forest Park trail. It was almost breath taking. What prevented that was the strong, at times torrential, rain storm with silent lightning drenching you. I was surprised with the rain and Lightning flashes the trail stayed open.
My wife and I had a delightful walk over most of the Crystal Bridges trails the first week in August. It was quite comfortable as most all of the trails are shaded. We are both in our seventies and found none of the trails taxing. There is outdoor art scattered throughout, lots of vegetation and a number of flowers that attracted bees and butterflies. We did not have a map so basically just wandered and Im sure that it would be more efficient with a trail map from the museum. We covered over 3 miles in all but many of the trails are short, 1/2 mile or less, so its a great place for short or medium hikes.
Finally got to visit this museum! Despite it being during covid it was a delightful experience, they take things seriously and kept it very safe and still entirely enjoyable. Cant wait to visit again!
Wow! The Crystal Bridges museum in Bentonville, Arkansas has one of the finest collections of art I have ever seen. I did not have time to hike any of the trails surrounding the site but I will definitely get back to do that next time Im there.
We were told that there were no tickets available, but we took the chance and got in anyhow.. Im so glad we did. This was by far the best day of our four day vacation in Arkansas. This museum needs to be on your bucket list.
Wonderful and free just make sure you get your tickets before you go. Lots of parking and staff very helpful and friendly. Beautiful art and buildings. Great place good food and you will want to see it all.
Glass domed tortoiseshell pod gallery spaces between corridors on top of waterways lends to a floating in nature experience which is a unique compliment between ecosystem appreciation/management and our human footprint. Waiter was very helpful and explained the specials and knew the menu well and offered suggestions. The forest is home to many deer who live a safe and peaceful life. Not only does it house art from over five centuries, the building itself was designed to fit within the landscape and not just on top. There are exhibits that you can pay $5 to get into. There is a coffee and snack area in case you get hungry. Great little cafe a step inside. Extensive gallery to tour as well as a childrens area on the lower level with crafts and other fun things. The special exhibits are always worth it though, and theyre reasonably priced. Even if art and museums arent your typical thing, I highly recommend giving the place a try.
Amazing experience. Clean spaces and friendly staff. The art work is unique and well cared for l. I would recommend a visit here to anyone!
The Night Forest exhibit is amazing! My daughter loved the circle at the beginning. I loved the sound garden. Gigi loved the bridge with sound water.Wow, super worth it.
A great museum, both inside and out. Its the second time I visited and I highly recommend it if you are passing through NW Arkansas.
One star? I’m rating one of the best museums in the country just one star? Correct. I found the museum buildings to be rather ugly. Due to Covid you cannot get in without making reservations at least a week or two in advance. Although the trails are beautiful, unless you’re on a bicycle you better stay off them. Maybe when they’re through with construction and maybe when Covid is over and they can allow more visitors, then maybe this will be a good place to go to. But not now.
Spectacular. The outdoors are amazing. The buildings are a work of art. I wish there is some provisions for people like us, who drove from 9 hours away, to see the museum that was sold out. May l suggest that you keep space, 10 to 15%,for people from out of state show driver license in your timed reservation.
This place is soul refreshing!!!! Love to take the kids always smiles I wish Mikel would have came with us, dang it man why did you have to ditch us?¿?
The museum and grounds are beautiful. It most be overstated but true to the tee. The museum grounds are every bit an experience as the interior and its collection. The NW Arkansas region is truly blessed to have the philanthropic vision of the founding family. As you make your way around the physical building the view and its embodiment with the surrounding hills become ever more evident. The architectural beauty of the campus is a masterpiece which houses others. Will definitely be back.
Beautiful artwork. If you name a significant America painter, there is probably a sample of their work. I wouldve given 5 stars if the curators had spent more time offering insights instead of harping on masks. Its also very difficult to get out to see the outside artwork. More signage would be appreciated!
Wish I could have enjoyed the museum but the trails outside were nice alot of ppl when I went but most ppl masked up it was a great experience I highly recommend.
Incredible building and grounds worth visiting for the architecture alone, even for the kids. The exhibits are well placed and commentary plaques are interesting. Takes at least an hour to 90 min to view but can be done faster with kids.
Even though we didnt get to walk on any of the trails due to the Rain the inside of the museum was spectacular. The Ansel Adams exhibit was beautiful. We definitely want to go back in the spring to enjoy the outdoor trails.
This is pertaining to both the museum and the north lights show. The museum had art that was so breathtaking and displayed very well, nice directional arrows to keep the social distancing flowing nicely. The architecture of the whole building is amazing in itself as well as the trails and art outside. The North Lights was really visually appealing and the music was gorgeous wish they sold it on a cd. Not sure why anyone would complain because the time it took to put together probably took a while and was beautifully done so.
It was absolutely amazing. I didnt expect such well known pieces to be in Bentonville Arkansas, but there were pieces Ive seen in textbooks before and studied in my art classes. Im definitely coming again when I have more time to fully appreciate this place.
Such a great experience. The staff was sweet and kept everyone wearing their masks. They kept the numbers low so everyone felt safe. Be sure to reserve your tickets! With Covid restrictions they had to turn some people away.
Loved it! The North Lights was an amazing experience for the whole family. My son absolutely LOVED it and cant stop talking about it.
Awesome campus, the vibe is phenomenal. Great pieces in the permanent collection. Will definitely come back
Amazing place to spend a few hours and its free! Grab the family and enjoy!
Loved my time here ! Great small museum that is free ! They pack the punch with a lot of cool stuff in a super small space compared to other art museums
Appreciated the energy and effort their dedicated team puts forth regarding safety measures. Everyone was so kind and helpful. Oh yeah, and the works of art were wonderful to learn about. Definitely enjoyed our visit!
Beautiful place to visit. So much to see that is free. There are some exhibits where you can see more if you pay a little. They are building even more to it. Wear comfortable shoes.
Beautiful setting. More of an experience than a destination. Excellent covid19 protocols. Usual overpriced food court. Art is tastefully laid out and rooms are easy to traverse. Outdoor areas are great for relaxing or snacking. Intend to visit again.
Fabulous experience. Words cant describe the magnificence of North Forest Lights and the latest installation at The Momentary. A world class venue for large multisensory exhibits like this. Bravo to Crystal Bridges and Northwest Arkansas!
Amazing museum and trails. The architecture alone is worth the trip. The Hank Willis Thomas temporary exhibit was amazing and thought-provoking. This will be a regular weekend destination.
Premiere. Smart architecture. Incredible collections. Brilliant presentation with an understanding of social/human rights issues. And a staff in curation, guides, coffee, food, & grounds who get how to facilitate a positive experience for guests.
This review is strictly for the North Forest Lights. We have not been given an opportunity as a community to voice our opinion about this exhibit if thats even What you want to call that.:::::That poorly displayed light attempt is overpriced exercise with mosquitoes.:::::Also, considering there were like 10 people there when we showed up, Im not really sure why we were held at the gate by a young teenager and made to wait in a forest with mask on. We were obviously singled out as a white family and I saw what happened there. This whole thing was a crock of shi+ and Im not going to even lie. With the kind of money swimming around there, they could have done better. From Warhol to Rockwell, you have money swimming around there to make something incredible and you should have. That youve lost my further business for any endeavor after treating our family the way you did the night we decided to go to the north forest. What an incredibly humiliating and exhausting waste of time. Almost nobody there and forced to wear a mask outside. You people need to get your heads out of the sand. The least I deserve is a refund.
The Hikes around the museum are so fun and love how they have plants and trees labeled.
Just one of the most magical places on earth. Lovely art, lovely people, lovely food, lovely nature all around. I’d visit frequently if I weren’t from here and I’ll visit even more frequently since I am :)
I had so much fun watching the lights. Not only was it beautiful but it gave me a chance to exercise since I had my child. I would definitely go back again
A must visit in Bentonville. This place is a work of art in its self. Beautifully designed and captivating architecture. They have a great mix of modern and classic artwork. The indoor and outdoor displays leave you wanting to see what else is waiting for you. And if you aren’t that in to art, there are miles of outdoor trails and exhibits to see as you walk through the woods surrounding the museum.
Visited North Forest Lights. Great display and experience.
Great campus, clean, workers were all very nice and helpful!! Exhibits were varied and descriptions of the pieces were very informative. Also, I appreciated that they had some of the descriptions in Spanish as well! We only went on a small portion of the trails, but they seemed to be maintained well! Great for singles, couples, and families alike!Also, free?!? Are you kidding me? But I guess if the National Gallery in London does it than why not in the US?
I could see the North Forest Lights display 100 times and enjoy it every time. So beautiful!
Super fun! Exciting to walk through and beautiful trails to walk. Will go back.
Well run and aesthetically breathtaking Museum. If youre in the area, or not, visit. Youll be glad you did.
Beautiful modern museum with cool exhibitions always being showcased. Also has outdoor exhibits that connect to mountain bike paths. Ive also used the trails to get a nice outdoor run in. Perfect place to spend some time with the family and explore some of the beautiful sights Bentonville has to offer.
The majority of the artwork was inspiring, the architecture of the building was beautiful and the layout and planning of the spaces were relatively intuitive for navigating, although they could have had some signage for directing a particular way.Signing up for the timed entrance slots was a dismal failure. No explanation was apparent on the website for what you were signing up for, therefore we wound up with 4 tickets which of course meant someone else missed out on a spot. Perhaps that was why there were so few people inside even though the website said it was full.Although we are big fans of modern and contemporary art, some of the displays were not only over-the-top stupid and weird, but one was actually offensive!We certainly wont return.
Lots of lovely art and sculptures to look at along with lots of walking trails. All the interactions with the staff was very friendly & courteous.Good place to spend the day.
To those skeptical about NW Arkansas having one of the best art museums in the country, I dare you to visit and not be impressed. Not only does it house art from over five centuries, the building itself was designed to fit within the landscape and not just on top. With amazing trails filled with art and surrounding the museum, this is definitely a destination worth walking to.The fact that it is also free admission to view the majority of the exhibits is mind boggling but one of the coolest things to help draw in more people to experience the museum.
We are very lucky to have such a wonderful museum like this in our state. My wife and I have visited several times and always enjoy it.
I went here expecting it to be awesome for all the hype people gave me who advised me to stop here. Unfortunately, it didnt meet my expectations. The exhibition is not bad by any means and the venue and gardens are great to just walk around and explore.
It seemed there wasnt as much art as I thought it would be and some of the areas were closed. Maybe when they get done with the construction and covid is not in the picture the experience should improve.The staff was very pleasant even though we didnt have a timed ticket.Will try to visit at another time.
A huge collection of art, galleries, sculptures on trail walks. Fun things for kids like painting and paper artwork. The museum itself is so beautifully laid out perfect place for family pass time and pictures.
Great experience with the North Forest Lights! The staff were very helpful and knowledgeable. Great social area with a bonfire and food and drink available. The path for each installation made its way through some beautiful spots.
One of the most beautiful places weve ever seen!!!!
Amazing art and chihuly!! Food court is closed for covid but they manage the number of people in the museum with caution!
Crystal Bridges has permanent art exhibits as well as rotating art exhibits. Art is one of the things in life which cause we humans to stop and reflect upon ourselves and how we interact with the world around us.At Crystal Bridges while you do not actually touch the exhibits you are allowed closer access to view much closer than most museums allow. I believe this approach helps deepen the experience of the observer.Crystal Bridges is designed in such a manner to allow for picnics (brought with you) near the parking area prior to or after viewing the exhibits. There are also a coffee bar (with smoothies) and other food available inside as well.An excellent experience which definitely bears repeating occasionally as the exhibits change!
First class museum tucked in a small Arkansas town. An easy daytrip from Tulsa but totally worth spending a night or two especially if biking is your thing. One minor complaint- the lighting in the Ansel Adams exhibit seemed too low. But that aside, prepare to be wowed.
Beautiful place. Beautiful artwork. Some construction but not a major factor. Walk the grounds. Lovely!
The museum hide inside a small forest or which i call a park with many trail roads. It’s quiet and beautiful. Suitable for designer and those who work with art. I like the atmosphere of the museum in the morning and also the contemporary arts and paintings are awesome
Art museum well-worth the visit. Free admission. Make sure to reserve a time. The outside sculpture garden doesnt require a reservation, but the park area does close, so check on times.
Spectacular as always with crowd pleasers and the new exhibit All Things Being Equal was moving.
The collection of American art here is captivating. We hiked some of the trails on the grounds here also. They are beautiful!
It’s a big museum, there are commonly art paintings from the end of 1800s and beginning of 1900. Also some modern things. It’s surrounding area is very nice, there are bike and walking ways. You can spend a day here.
Sophisticated art supremely curated in this exemplery world class museum that demands to be reckoned as a unique world destination. Fly, drive, taste and see this Masterpiece in the framework of Arkansass natural beauty.
General admission is free. Parking was free. This place is amazing. We visited today to see the chalk festival. There were artists from all over the country doing chalk paintings for people to see. It was beautiful to see the creative process in action. After perusing the chalk exhibits, we went through the indoor portion of the museum. The architecture of the building is really neat. They have tons of art to look at, as well as interactive studios and sports to engage kids. Definitely recommend a trip for the whole family.
Very interesting and unique place. We did not allow enough time to enjoy all the features plus the nature trails. 4 hours is not enough time.
Absolutely amazing museum. Very clean and well taken care of. There was an exhibit about Black Lives that was amazing. They are being very careful about covid and we felt safe the whole time. 10/10 recommend. A free museum like this is worth a stop to see.
This museum is, frankly, incredible, and I am so grateful for its existence. I have loved it and visited it since its inception.Unfortunately, many of the legendary paintings that have been bought for display are now being misused as a platform to preach anti-American, shame-filled messages at patrons. I don’t need a beautiful painting of old American landscape to have a description that says, “We came and took land from other people who lived here for long before we came.” I’m sorry, is that what the artist who PAINTED that beautiful landscape intended for us to get out of it? No, I’m confident the answer is no. So stop disgracing all this beautiful and powerful art with shameful political messages that the artists had no intention of you using their art for.Disgraceful the propaganda that is in this museum. Keep politics away from historic art. If a modern artist wants to paint something and present something political, great. I’ll know to avoid their art if I’m not interested in their message. But taking a dead artist’s painting and using it for political messages is purely shameful. It’s simply propaganda, and it literally made me mad to see how many paintings were slandered by shame-culture descriptions.Get rid of the liberal messages, let the art speak for itself or else put a description that describes the art—not your individual negative views about America.
Because of Covid-19 you have to prebook tickets, but they’re still free. Love how every time I go there’s something different in the exhibits. Never a stale trip!
I wasnt able to experience all the trails in the one visit, but the trails I got to were gorgeous with statues and other art around! The museum had a surprising amount of original paintings and expeditions that change in and out throughout the year. If you enjoy art you will enjoy Crystal Bridges
Wonderful collection of art. Pieces were thoughtfully curated and presented. Main galleries are free. Special exhibits may be extra.
Great architecture and a wonderful collection. Really a unique destination that Iv enjoyed time and time again. Also, the restaurant, bar, and coffee shop are all with enjoying!
Very grateful they are requiring masks, asking for social distancing and setting appointments. This is a spectacular museum, the art, the commentary, the grounds, the staff and should be appreciated under all circumstances. They rotate the art in the main exhibit hall so you are seeing a variety of their collection.
Loved everything but the giant spider. Beautiful trails that are pet friendly. Interesting artwork and the beautiful Glass works by Chihuly. Large gift store with a huge variety in all price ranges.
Beautiful art from classic to modern. Entrance fee is free due to donations from the Walton family. Staff at the museum are knowledgeable and friendly, it was fun to have them elaborate on the origins of some of the art as well as the artist that made the art.Although natures nation does have a ticket price (currently $12) its worth the price for the historic and artistic interpretation of a walk through our nations past.Lastly, there is a nice outdoor walking path that runs along a stream and includes more sculptures as well as other small art forms.
Architecturally stunning and thoughtfully curated collection. Highly worth the trip. We had only two hours, which was nowhere near enough time we could have spent exploring the galleries and trails. Easily on par, if not exceeding, the best museums in the U.S. for overall guest experience. (Also, free admission.)
Gorgeous grounds and unique art. Loved the spindle/thread art. Glad the docent said to visit that room because following the Covid one way arrows.
I took my fiance here to see the North Forrest lights. It was amazing and a relaxing fun time.