Downtown Bentonville facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Downtown Bentonville
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Confederate monument at the center of the town square
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 Downtown Bentonville
Location in Arkansas
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| Area | |
| • District | 1.5 sq mi (4 km2) |
| • Urban | 21.2 sq mi (55 km2) |
| • Metro | 3,213.01 sq mi (8,321.7 km2) |
| Population
(2000)
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| • District | 4,479 |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Website | http://www.downtownbentonville.org/ |
Downtown Bentonville is the main business area of Bentonville, Arkansas. It's where the main office for Walmart is located. You'll also find city and county government buildings here. Downtown Bentonville has many popular tourist spots and lots of old, important buildings.
This area covers about 1.5 square miles (3.9 km2). It stretches from Tiger Boulevard in the north to Highway 102 in the south. To the west, it reaches Walton Boulevard (U.S. Route 71B), and to the east, J Street. Like many city centers, Downtown Bentonville has changed a lot recently. New apartments have been built, old buildings have been fixed up, and new people and businesses have moved in. Since the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art opened, more tourists visit. This has made Downtown Bentonville one of Arkansas's most popular places to visit.
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Planning for the Future of Downtown Bentonville
In the early 2000s, Bentonville decided to follow a plan from the University of Arkansas. This plan was all about making the downtown area better. In 2003, meetings were held where people living and working downtown shared their ideas with city leaders. Committees then chose the best ideas and how to make them happen. The Master Plan officially started in 2004.
What the Master Plan Includes
The plan for improving Downtown Bentonville has several goals. These include making clear entrances to the area and adding public art. They also wanted to plant more trees and add street benches. Better parking and walking trails were also part of the plan. The city also aimed to move power lines underground and clean up messy areas. A key part of the plan is keeping the old buildings special. It also limits how new buildings can be constructed.
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
Alice Walton helped create the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. This museum is a top place to see American art and artists. It has walking trails and learning activities. The museum shows over 450 artworks from five centuries of American art. It is the most visited museum in Arkansas. In 2012, its first year, 604,000 people visited. The building itself is special, designed by famous architect Moshe Safdie. It also has a special green building certification called Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.
Exploring the Trails at Crystal Bridges
Trails connect Crystal Bridges to the Bentonville Square. These trails let visitors enjoy the outdoors in the Ozarks. There are six trails in total. They offer chances to learn about plants native to Arkansas. You can also see public art along the paths.
The Heart of Bentonville: The Square
The Bentonville Square is a central area in Bentonville. It's also called the Public Square. Many old and important buildings surround Public Square Park. The Benton County Courthouse is on the east side. The Walmart Visitor's Center is on the west side.
Confederate Soldier Monument
A monument to a Confederate Soldier is in the middle of Square Park. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1996.
Benton County Courthouse
The Benton County Courthouse has been the main building for Benton County government since 1928. It was built by Albert O. Clark. The building has a Classical Revival style. It features special stones above windows and round-topped windows. Above the main entrance, a large concrete block says, "Sovereignty rests with the people." This building was added to the NRHP in 1988. Many other historic buildings in Benton County were also listed then.
Historic Buildings on the Square
The Bogart Hardware Building (112 E Central) and Roy's Office Supply Building (110 E Central) were built around 1885. They are on the south side of the Bentonville square. These buildings still look much like they did when they were first built. The Bogart Hardware Building has its original decorative brickwork in good shape. Roy's Office Supply Building was built with two different storefronts. This allowed two different shops to be inside. Even its original floor is still there. These two buildings show how the Bentonville square looked at the start of the 1900s. Both buildings were added to the NRHP in 1988.
Hotel Massey
Hotel Massey is an old hotel in downtown Bentonville. It was built in 1910 in a style called Renaissance Revival. This hotel sits on an important corner in Bentonville. It replaced the Eagle Hotel, which had been there since 1840. Many important businesses have been on its first floor. The community sees this building as a key historic landmark. Its architectural style is also rare in Arkansas, especially in the Ozarks. Because of its history and unique style, Hotel Massey was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
Terry Block Building
The Terry Block Building is a commercial building on the west side of the Bentonville square. It was built in 1888 by Colonel William A. Terry. This is the largest building on the square. It shows how strong the economy was in the 1880s. Terry owned a dry goods store and was president of the Benton County Bank, both located in this building.
Today, Walmart owns the building. It is now a fun 1950s-style soda fountain and ice cream shop.
Fun Events in Downtown Bentonville
Downtown Bentonville hosts many events each year. These include Winter Wonderland in December and Independence Day celebrations in July. "Pickin' on the Square" is a weekly event from May to October. Local musicians play country, blues, and bluegrass music. The Bentonville Farmer's Market also happens weekly during these months. "First Fridays" are held from April through November. These are themed events sponsored by downtown businesses. Since 2015, Bentonville has also hosted the Bentonville Film Festival every May.
Parks in Downtown Bentonville
Downtown Bentonville has five parks where you can relax and play.
- Square Park, 1 acre (0.40 ha)
- Dave Peel Park, which used to be called JayCee Park 2 acres (0.81 ha)
- Train Station Park, 1 acre (0.40 ha)
- Bogle Park, 0.8 acres (0.32 ha)
- Town Branch Park, 0.78 acres (0.32 ha)
