Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art celebrates the American spirit in a setting that unites art and nature. Designed by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie, Crystal Bridges consists of galleries, meeting rooms, and a glass-enclosed gathering hall grouped around two ponds. The 120 acres upon which the museum sits offer visitors a unique opportunity to appreciate the local Ozarks landscape, with over 3.5 miles of trails.

The design for Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art grows out of a consideration for its extraordinarily beautiful, pastoral site, situating a collection of delicate pavilions nestled into the sloping terrain of a forested site. The pavilions span a ravine to create two ponds, forming a backdrop to the community and educational spaces. The complex positions art and nature side by side, and includes a network of gardens, courtyards, and hiking trails.

Both a museum and a cultural center, the complex holds exhibit spaces and a curatorial complex of the highest standard in addition to a library, and multiple communal and educational spaces. Two suspended-cable-and-timber “bridges” span the ravine, creating two ponds. The primary materials – concrete, timber, and fieldstone – are sourced from the region.

Visitors enter the museum at the crest of a hill and descend through a stair and elevator to the pond level. Visitors then circulate from one pavilion to the next, circling and crisscrossing the ponds. The surrounding crown of trees is visible above the roofline of the museum in all directions. Two bridge buildings at the north pond contain galleries, as well as reception, dining, and hospitality facilities. The Great Hall, a multipurpose public space, is surrounded on three sides by the south pond. Additional structures nestled into the sloping terrain contain galleries, function rooms, classrooms, a library, curatorial spaces, and administrative offices.

• Tripadvisor Rating: 5.0/5
• Website: https://crystalbridges.org/
• Opening Hours: Mon & Wed 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM, Thu - Fri 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM, Sat - Sun 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
• Admission: General admission tickets are free
• Address: 600 Museum Way, Bentonville, AR 72712