Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is a public, non-profit charitable organization located in Bentonville, Arkansas. Founded by philanthropist Alice Walton, the museum opened to the public on November 11, 2011. Its mission is to welcome all visitors to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature. The institution is situated on a 120-acre site within a natural ravine containing mature Ozark forests and Crystal Spring, a limestone-fed water source. The museum provides free admission year-round and is committed to telling broad and inclusive stories by acquiring works by artists who have been underrepresented in traditional art history narratives.

The museum was founded by Alice Walton in 2005, with the goal of creating a world-class museum in her hometown. The project was made possible by a founding endowment of $800 million from the Walton Family Foundation, along with the family's gift of the 120-acre campus. The museum's name is derived from a nearby natural spring and the bridge construction incorporated into the building design. Alice Walton gifted her personal art collection to form the basis of the museum's holdings. The institution has since contributed significantly to the revitalization of downtown Bentonville and the broader Northwest Arkansas region, supporting employment, tourism, and local economic development.