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Arts & Culture

The arts are alive and the culture is vibrant in this thriving Arkansas region. Brimming with exclusive arts and entertainment venues and distinct historical sites and museums, northwest Arkansas is certainly not at a loss of prime artistic and cultural avenues.

THE ARTS – Visual Arts and Performing Arts

ARTS CENTER OF THE OZARKS Located in Springdale, the Arts Center of the Ozarks takes a hand-on approach to the arts. The center offers a wide variety of classes and workshops throughout the year, plus a number of performance art pieces during the scheduled season. www.artscenteroftheozarks.org

CRYSTAL BRIDGES MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART This Bentonville venue is slated to become a premier national art institution committed to American art. Upon completion in 2010, Crystal Bridges will be equipped with approximately 100,000 square feet of gallery, library, meeting and office space, plus it will feature a 250-seat auditorium, outdoor concert and event areas and sculpture gardens complete with walking trails. www.crystalbridges.org

OPERA IN THE OZARKS Situated at Inspiration Point Eureka Springs, Opera in the Ozarks has become a highly regarded site for those preparing for professional careers in the performing arts—with a large focus on opera—since its establishment nearly 60 years ago. www.opera.org

TERRA STUDIOS Visitors to Terra Studios, located just outside of Fayetteville, can stroll through the area’s mural garden, peruse through the pottery showroom, take in the beautiful Otis Zark Event Center or even catch a glimpse at skilled glassmakers at work. www.terrastudios.com

WALTON ARTS CENTER For more than 15 years, the Walton Arts Center has provided northwest Arkansas with a year-round schedule of the finest arts and entertainment. Recognized as a cultural gem in northwest Arkansas, the center draws in a diverse array of acclaimed theater, concerts, dance troupes, exhibitions and much more. Additionally, Walton Arts Center, located in Fayetteville, also plays host to a number of productions by the University of Arkansas, Theatre Squared and the North Arkansas Symphony. www.waltonartscenter.org

• NORTH ARKANSAS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA The renowned 70-piece North Arkansas Symphony Orchestra has been a significant aspect of the area for more than 50 years. NASO performs a variety of original selections and offers plenty of educational opportunities through community education and its Youth Orchestra. www.nasymphony.org

• THEATRE SQUARED Theatre Squared is a regional professional theatre company devoted to providing the best in performing arts for both adult and youth audiences in northwest Arkansas. www.theatresquared.org

CULTURAL CHANNELS – Museums, Historical Sites, Entertainment and More

ARKANSAS AIR MUSEUM Take a step back into Arkansas’ aviation history at the Arkansas Air Museum, nestled within Fayetteville Airport. Browse through a number of original artifacts on display and a multitude of aviation memorabilia. And don’t forget to check out the museum’s all-wood hangar. The Arkansas Air Museum’s most unique feature is that many of its aircraft still fly today. www.arkairmuseum.org

BOTANICAL GARDENS OF THE OZARKS The essence of the Ozarks come to life through nine beautifully designed and well-maintained gardens, plus the modern Totemeir Horticulture Center. The Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks also offers plenty of educational opportunities through workshops, classes/programs and lectures, as well as collaborations with local schools. www.bgozarks.org

CLINTON HOUSE MUSEUM This 1930s English-style, one-room bungalow served as the first home of former U.S. President Bill Clinton and U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, as well as the site of their 1975 wedding. Learn about the life and times of this powerhouse couple during the time they spent in Fayetteville through displays showcasing unique photographs and memorabilia. www.clintonhousemuseum.com

DAISY AIRGUN MUSEUM Explore the history of Daisy airguns and browse through unique Daisy collectibles, dating back to the 1600s, at the Daisy Airgun Museum, situated in downtown Rogers. www.daisymuseum.com

HEADQUARTERS HOUSE/ BATTLE OF FAYETTEVILLE Built by Judge Jonas Tebbetts in 1853, Headquarters House remarkably survived the Civil War—even after being utilized as the headquarters for both the Federal and Confederate armies, and most amazingly, through the Battle of Fayetteville that took place on its grounds on April 18, 1863. www.washcohistoricalsociety.org/hispro/hqh.php

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS NATURALS BASEBALL Spend a day at the ballpark with the region’s own minor league baseball team. The Northwest Arkansas Naturals recently moved into the new $33 million Arvest Ballpark in March of 2008. www.minorleaguebaseball.com

OZARK MILITARY MUSEUM Dedicated to preserving and honoring those northwest Arkansas veterans who have served the U.S., the Ozark Military Museum in Fayetteville comprises a number of interesting items, including two flying aircraft—plus 12 static and restoration project aircraft—15 military vehicles, uniforms and a number of other distinct artifacts collected over the years. www.ozarkmilitarymuseum.org/

PEA RIDGE NATIONAL MILITARY PARK This 4,300-acre park was the site of a March 1862 Civil War battle where nearly 26,000 soldiers risked their lives to determine the future of Missouri. The site also includes a 2.5-mile stretch of the Trail of Tears. Pea Ridge National Military Park stands as one of the most well-preserved historical parks in the nation. www.nps.gov/peri

PRAIRIE GROVE BATTLEFIELD STATE PARK Stretching over 130 acres, Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park is nationally acknowledged as one of the most unspoiled Civil War battlefield sites in the country. The Battle of Prairie Grove on December 7, 1862 resulted in about 2,700 casualties and marked the date of the last major Civil War encounter in the region. The preserved park offers a one-mile walking trail and a 6.5-mile driving tour, plus a home tour. www.arkansasstateparks.com/prairiegrovebattlefield

SHILOH MUSEUM OF OZARK HISTORY With a focus on the history of the northwest Arkansas Ozarks, the 22,000-square-foot Shiloh Museum of Ozark History is a treasure in the region. The museum is teeming with exhibits depicting life in the area since the beginning, and even houses a research library boasting a collection of more than 700,000 historical photographs. Also on the grounds of the museum are six historic buildings, including an 1850s-era log cabin, a barn and a 1940s townhome. www.springdaleark.org/shiloh


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