On the Road — Bentonville, Arkansas, Part 1

We took a short excursion to Arkansas and Oklahoma to visit Bentonville, Tulsa and Pawhuska. Wow, what a trip! There was so much to see and do. Our only regret was that we didn’t have more time to explore the picturesque mountain towns in the Ozarks.

Bentonville isn’t the easiest place to get to by plane, so we flew into Tulsa and drove for two hours. Many of the towns along the drive had antique stores or malls. We even passed a gas station that sold “food, fuel and antiques”! We stopped at a large antiques mall right across the Oklahoma – Arkansas border and found lots of old everyday items such as Pyrex dishes, glass, toys and advertising signs at fair prices.

Bentonville, a town of about 55,000 residents with a growing population, is at the edge of the Ozark Mountains. It is a company town, home of the Walmart headquarters.

When we arrived at Bentonville, we were greeted by an old town square from the 1800s anchored by Sam Walton’s (the founder of Walmart) original five-and-dime store, Walton’s 5&10, which is now a museum. Surrounding stores and restaurants reflect the town’s young, vibrant culture. We also learned that the town is one of the top-rated mountain biking areas in the world, with over 500 miles of trails.

We walked from town to the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. The museum, funded by Alice Walton, Sam Walton’s daughter, is designed to give you the optimal view of the historical progress of American art in a setting that incorporates the beauty of the area. The project made every effort to use local materials and craftsmen. It holds a world-class collection of American art and a relocated Frank Lloyd Wright house, as well as five miles of trails with sculptures that surprise you around every bend.

                                                          Part 2, featuring our trip to Oklahoma, will appear in next month’s newsletter.

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

 

Dale Chihuly sculpture, “Turquoise Reeds and Ozark Fiori,” installed near the bridge on the museum’s Art Trail.

 

Beamed ceiling at Crystal Bridges with Dale Chihuly’s glass “Azure Icicle Chandeliers.” The 152 support beams are Arkansas white pine, handmade by an Arkansas artisan using handmade vises.

 

Walton’s 5 & 10, the original store of Sam Walton, founder of Walmart. It is now a free museum where you can see the history of Walmart.

Sam Walton’s office

 

 Original floor of the Walton 5 & 10. Note the tiles don’t match. Sam Walton bought the tiles at a bargain and felt that his customers would be less concerned about the matching colors and more concerned about buying products at lower prices.

Bachman-Wilson House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, built in New Jersey 1956. It was taken apart and re-built at Crystal Bridges between 2013 and 2015.

 

A COUPLE OF ANTIQUE STORE FINDS:

Mississippi license plates from the early 2000s. We liked that the top one was from Lee County. $9.95.

 

Coke bottle commemorating Auburn Tigers, 1983 S.E.C. Football Champions and 1984 Sugar Bowl Champs, $9.95.