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Northwest Arkansas is home to a variety of museums including its crowning jewel, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Whether you are interested in world-class American art, country doctors, or Civil War history, you’ll find a museum that will suit your interest below.

Bentonville

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
600 Museum Way, (479) 418-5700

Crystal Bridges is a world-class museum of American art that combines the power of art with the beauty of nature.  The museum is actively involved in collecting, exhibiting, interpreting, and preserving outstanding works of American art spanning five centuries.

Many famous works including Rosie The Riveter by Norman Rockwell and Kindred Spirits by Asher B Durand can be observed in the free-to-view permanent collection.  Even if you are not into art, you will enjoy the stunning natural setting and the beautiful trails that surround  the museum complex.

Museum of Native American History
202 SW O St, (479) 273-2456

Walk through America’s past as you visit the exhibits in the museum and gift shop. Divided into five different time periods including the Paleo, Archaic, Woodland, Mississippian, Historic and the Pre Columbian, there are relics from every time period.

On display are relics dating back from over 14,000 years old to historic times.  Great for the family and educational for the kids.

Momentary 
507 SE E St, (479) 367-7500

The Momentary is the newest addition to the cultural development of Northwest Arkansas. The brainchild of the youngest set of Walton entrepreneurs, brothers Tom and Steuart Walton and Tom’s wife Olivia, the Momentary is a 63,000 sq. ft building, which provides space for of-the-moment art, performing art, music and culinary art.

Different from Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, of which it is a satellite, there is no permanent collection, but instead the Momentary has ever-changing exhibitions and musical events, which provides the visitor with a new experience each time he visits.

Atop the seven-story building is a Tower Bar, a great place to socialize and view the city. General admission is free to all, but some programs require a paid ticket.

The Scott Family Amazeum
1009 Museum Way, (479) 696-9280

The Scott Family Amazeum, a hands-on museum for children and families.  The dream of the Amazeum founders is to educate  and engage the entire family in exploration, learning and fun to help prepare people for lies ahead.

The Peel Mansion Museum & Heritage Gardens
400 S Walton Blvd, (479) 254-3870

The Peel Mansion, built in 1875 as well as the gardens are a living display of that time period.  Furnished with authentic artifacts and antiquities on loan from the Old State House and the Historic Arkansas Museum, it is a landmark of that era.  It welcomes people to enjoy a look at historic Bentonville.

Walmart Museum
temporary location while undergoing renovation is at
Walmart Museum Heritage Lab at the Ledger building; 2 blocks south of the square;
240 S Main St.
(479) 273-1329

Located on the Downtown Square in Bentonville, the museum is in three parts, a museum, a working 5&10, and the The Spark Cafe.

Trace the origin and growth of Walmart, the worlds leading big box giant.  Experience the working 5&10. Enjoy interactives for all ages.  Visit The Spark Cafe where the entire family can enjoy a delicious ice cream treat for under $5.00.

Eureka Springs

Eureka Springs Historical Museum
95 S Main St, Eureka Springs, AR 72632
(479) 253-9417

See photographs & art exploring the town of Eureka Springs when the healing waters were discovered.  Current exhibits feature pieces from the Museum’s collection and loans from individual artists, including work by David Zimmerman, Elsie Freund, Catherine Osterhage, and Charlie Stehm. Also work by Gary Eagan, and four of his former apprentices, Stephen Beacham, Karen Foster, Sally Williams Gorrell and Jane Tucker is on display

Fayetteville

Arkansas Country Doctor Museum
107 N Starr Ave, Lincoln, AR 72744
(479) 824-4307

The fascinating museum was the former private home and clinic of three country doctors who lived in the space from 1926 to 1978. There is only one other country doctor museum in the United States.  Exhibits include an antique horse buggy, medical instruments, a vintage car, and memorabilia.

Arkansas Air & Military Museum
4290 S School Ave, Fayetteville, AR 72701
(479) 521-4947

Housed in an all-wood hanger that is almost as famous as the aircraft, exhibits and memorabilia it contains, the museum  tells the colorful story of Arkansas aviation.  It also display aircraft ranging from the golden age of aviation to the jet age, including Vietnam-era Army helicopters and a Navy carrier fighter.

Clinton House Museum
930 W Clinton Dr, Fayetteville, AR 72701
(479) 444-0066

The first home of the 42nd president of the U.S. offers a photographic and memorabilia peek into the Clinton’s life when they were proud residents of Fayetteville.  You will also see campaign materials from his run for office.

Headquarters House
118 E Dickson St, Fayetteville, AR 72701
(479) 521-2970

During the Civil War this home was the headquarters for both the Union and Confederate armies.  Today it is the headquarters for the Washington County Historical Society.  Arrange for a tour of the home by calling 479-521-2970.

Rogers

Daisy Airgun Museum
202 W Walnut Street, Rogers, AR 72756
(479) 986-6873

The Rogers Daisy Airgun Museum is home to both  the Daisy Air Rifle and the Daisy BB Gun.  People of all ages enjoy this amazing collection.  Older visitors can enjoy the Daisy models they used when they were young, and youths get to see the latest in fascinating air guns, ammo and accessories.  The gift shop has a limited selection of items that can only be purchased from the museum gift shop.

Rogers Historical Museum
322 South Second St, Rogers, Arkansas
(479) 621-1154

This is a small museum with lots of history of the area. It is a super way to educate your kids about how things were done during the time of the city’s beginning, and up to and including the present.  There are fun hands on stations for the kids to learn and enjoy themselves.  Great family educational fun.  Staff is patient and friendly.

Springdale

Hindman Hall Museum
Prairie Grove, AR 72753
(479) 846-2990

Museum and visitor center located on the grounds of the Battle of Prairie Grove State Park.  Bring the history to life using interactive exhibits that interpret and detail the Battle of Prairie Grove.

Learn stories about the battle, understand what part the landscape had to play, and hear about the devastating aftermath of the war on the local community.  Drive through the battle field, or walk the hallowed ground where more than 2700 men were killed.

Shiloh Museum of Ozark History
118 W Johnson Ave, Springdale, AR 72764
(479) 750-8165

The museum tells the history of NWA.  It got its name from the pioneer community of Shiloh, which later became Springdale.  The museum facilitates a research library, which houses a collection of over 500 thousand pictures.

Also on the grounds are six buildings that highlight the lives of ordinary people who lived in the rural communities of the Ozarks. Additionally, there are also many permanent exhibits portraying the lives of these everyday NWA people.

Note: Photo Courtesy Arkansas Dept of Parks and Tourism

HONORABLE MENTION

NWA Reptile Museum
809 East Emma Ave #B, Springdale, Arkansas
(479) 544-4170

Visit their live animals. Bring your camera and take pictures as you see and tough a variety of live reptiles.  See a very large Boa Constrictor, some little milk snakes or even a giant tree frog.  A reptile lover’s paradise.