One of the finest American art museums in the world is right here in Arkansas—but did you know that a record breaking painting hangs there? Have you walked the trails and seen the extent of the grounds? Here’s a list of fascinating facts about one of Arkansas’s most appealing attractions:
- It’s free for the whole family!
Flickr/Gordon Admission cost: Nope. Nada. Zilch. Nothing. Thanks, Walton Family Foundation.
- The museum is estimated to have cost $1.2 billion.
Flickr/Walmart About $317 million was donated by Alice Walton. That’s her on the left. She also heads the board of directors.
- The architect who designed the buildings is world famous.
Flickr/Stefan Krakowski His name is Moshe Safdie and he’s amazing.
- There’s an app for that.
Flickr/jeshoots.com Seriously, you can download an app for a self-guided walking tour of the museum.
- The library has 50,000 art reference materials.
Pixabay/Arno_M There’s also a digital library!
- It sits on 120 acres.
Flickr/Brad Holt And oh! Those walking trails!
- There are sculptures on the walking trails.
Flickr/Doug Wertman
- The restaurant there is actually pretty amazing.
Flickr/C-Monster
- The Tyson Scholars in American Art is an art history residency program at Crystal Bridges.
Flickr/Richard Endowed by the Tyson family and Tyson foods, the scholars have access to all the resources of Crystal Bridges. Housing and office space is available to the scholars who study there.
- The Reese Teacher Fellowship helps high school teachers combine art with other subjects.
Flickr/University of Central Arkansas Teachers get to stay and work at Crystal Bridges for a month. They have access to the special collections, and the library at Crystal Bridges. The primary focus is on developing creative ways to use art to teach other core subjects.
- The traveling collection currently featured there is called “The Open Road.”
Flickr/genibee It features more than 100 images from 19 photographers, dating from the 1950s to today.
- There is work by Andy Warhol in the permanent collection.
Flickr/Alejandro Hermoso
- Georgia O’Keeffe’s Jimson Weed/White Flower No. 1 also lives there, and it holds a world record.
Wikipedia/Alfred Stieglitz - Phillips It was purchased for a record breaking $44.4 million. That makes it the most expensive painting ever painted by a woman.
- We can’t forget about Norman Rockwell’s Rosie the Riveter.
Flickr/Richard
Flickr/Gordon
Admission cost: Nope. Nada. Zilch. Nothing. Thanks, Walton Family Foundation.
Flickr/Walmart
About $317 million was donated by Alice Walton. That’s her on the left. She also heads the board of directors.
Flickr/Stefan Krakowski
His name is Moshe Safdie and he’s amazing.
Flickr/jeshoots.com
Seriously, you can download an app for a self-guided walking tour of the museum.
Pixabay/Arno_M
There’s also a digital library!
Flickr/Brad Holt
And oh! Those walking trails!
Flickr/Doug Wertman
Flickr/C-Monster
Flickr/Richard
Endowed by the Tyson family and Tyson foods, the scholars have access to all the resources of Crystal Bridges. Housing and office space is available to the scholars who study there.
Flickr/University of Central Arkansas
Teachers get to stay and work at Crystal Bridges for a month. They have access to the special collections, and the library at Crystal Bridges. The primary focus is on developing creative ways to use art to teach other core subjects.
Flickr/genibee
It features more than 100 images from 19 photographers, dating from the 1950s to today.
Flickr/Alejandro Hermoso
Wikipedia/Alfred Stieglitz - Phillips
It was purchased for a record breaking $44.4 million. That makes it the most expensive painting ever painted by a woman.
Have you visited the museum yet? Let us know what you think about it in the comments.
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