The Crystal Bridges art collection offers a superb overview of American art including American masterworks as well as surprising, lesser-known gems from the Colonial era to contemporary work. Sculpture in the collection graces interior galleries and outdoor trails.

Education is at the core of Crystal Bridges’ mission. The Museum offers year-round programming for all ages, including lectures, art-making workshops, films, gallery talks, and special events. An award-winning app available free from iTunes features audio tours of current and past temporary exhibitions, and many of the Museum’s lectures and gallery talks are included in Crystal Bridges’ iTunes U site, which also features interviews with curators, artists, and conservators. In addition, Crystal Bridges offers professional development for teachers and educational programming for K-12 school groups designed to fit with Common Core standards.

Nestled at the base of a natural ravine in the heart of the Ozark forest, Crystal Bridges was designed by architect Moshe Safdie to be both a complement and a counterpoint to the surrounding landscape. Rather than building at the edge of the ravine, overlooking the stream below, Safdie chose to let the landscape embrace the building, and make the springwater an integral part of the design. Two ponds were created with a series of weirs that manage the inflow from Town Branch Creek and nearby Crystal Spring. This natural spring, along with the striking glass and copper bridges that span the ponds, provided Crystal Bridges with its name.

The trails and grounds of Crystal Bridges are a must-see part of the Museum experience. More than 3.5 miles of trails wind through the Museum’s 120-acre site, providing guests with access to the beautiful Ozark landscape. Designed to spark the imagination, the trails help guests form connections to the land and its history, as well as enjoy outdoor artworks.

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art features some of the most unique and elegant event venues in the region, offering facilities for a wide variety of events. Your guests can enjoy breathtaking views of the Crystal Bridges’ ponds and landscapes from the Museum’s Great Hall or Eleven, dance the night away on the spacious outdoor Walker Landing, or celebrate alongside the Art Trail on the Museum’s South Lawn, surrounded by native Ozark forest. Your guests also have the unique opportunity to experience the Museum’s breathtaking collection of American Art.

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art features some of the most unique and elegant event venues in the region, offering wedding and reception packages for all sizes of events. Your guests can enjoy breathtaking views of Crystal Bridges’ ponds and landscapes from the glass-enclosed Great Hall or Eleven the Museum’s restaurant bridge, dance the night away on the spacious outdoor Walker Landing, or celebrate alongside the Art Trail on the Museum’s South Lawn, surrounded by native Ozark forest. Your guests also have the unique opportunity to experience the Museum’s breathtaking collection of American Art

Crystal Bridges offers regular educational programs on a variety of topics, from historic documents, to artist books, to graphic novels.

The Library welcomes all researchers and guests during the Museum’s public hours. Special Collections and Archives are available for private viewing by appointment only.

Eleven is the restaurant at Crystal Bridges. We specialize in modern American comfort food with an emphasis on traditions that hail from the “high South and low Midwest” region…the Ozarks. Our “edible responsibility” approach demonstrates our commitment to promoting and celebrating local food culture, featuring fresh ingredients from the Bentonville Farmers’ Market and other food artisans in Northwest Arkansas. The robust cuisine of Eleven not only nourishes, but also tells a story—inspired by the artworks, natural surroundings, and fascinating regional history connected to our Museum.

Shop a selection of home decor by American designers such as Simon Pearce and Michael Aram, and a unique jewelry collection featuring designs by Dian Malouf and other trend-setters. The Museum Store also offers fine-art prints of some of the most popular works in Crystal Bridges’ permanent collection, and original works by the region’s finest artists. Contact us: 479-657-2310

Crystal Bridges offers several options for groups wishing to visit the Museum. Choose from several Guide-led experiences, or arrange for a self-guided visit for your group.

Members not only provide vital support to the programs and events at the Museum, they are part of our vital and growing Crystal Bridges community. Membership also has its perks, including discounts on events and programs, special Members-only previews of exhibitions, the option to join artinfusion, our young patrons group, and more!