Crystal Bridges Museum Yesterday, Clinton Library And Hot Springs, Arkansas, Today

Crystal Bridges Museum's Main Buildings

The Hiking Paths of The Museum

It's early in Fayetteville, 6:30, quiet on the University of Arkansas campus because the semester is over. I have just gotten back from a brief morning walk, to the Old Main, around a few buildings and back.  I did not see a soul, as the campus is eerily empty.  It's also difficult to get a good picture of anything because there are so many trees, making the campus like a forest with occasional buildings.

Fulbright Peace Tower On Campus

We left Lee's Summit, reluctantly, but were able to be on the road just before 8:00.  It was sunny when we left, but clouded up on the way, as we had an easy three hour drive to the Crystal Bridges Museum.  There was little traffic on the road until we got to Joplin, then when we entered the area around Bentonville but that was it, easy going on #71//49,  a divided highway most of the way.

Stella, the Pig

We knew there was going to be a tour of spring wildflowers with a horticulturalist at 11:30, so we made it with 15 minutes to spare.  The museum was busy, the parking lots practically full when we got there at 11:00, when the Museum opened.  I was really surprised at how busy it was, mostly with either retirees like us or a busloads of students from the area.  There were about 10 of us on the tour, which took an hour and a half, as we wound our way along various paths.  Most flowers were either past their peak or about to open, so we did not have a lot to see.  But she was good at explaining the plants, trees, bushes, and sculptures which we saw along the way.  The landscaping of the grounds is consciously minimal, as they went out of their way to preserve the natural environment except when it was necessary to create a walk, or a rock area.  After the walk, we ate lunch in the Crystal Bridges lunch room, long and narrow, with floor to ceiling windows on both sides, a spectacular area to lunch. You order at the kiosk, get a number, and a server brings  your meal to the table in 10 minutes or so.  I had chicken and biscuits, Evie a chicken salad, both good.

Dining Room

We then spent the next hour or two touring the art museum, basically American art from the early 1800's to NOW.   Most of the first couple of centuries were paintings by artists we did not recognize.  It was not until the mid 19th century that we began to recognize names like Whistler, Sergeant, and even a Wyeth.  It is a spectacular museum architecturally and viewing the art is easy as there's no sense of crowding or putting too much into one room.  Because the Museums artist's are mostly unknowns until late 19th century, it's not my favorite museum.  Browsing a museum dedicated to American artists, however, is different and interesting to any art lover.

A Sculpture Of Garden Tools

We left around 3:00, tired from our drive and visit and had a half hour ride to Fayetteville, where we checked into the Inn At Carnal Hall, on the University of Arkansas campus.  Once we got in our rooms, we fell onto our bed, exhausted from our trip.  I think not sleeping well because we are not in our own beds finally got to us.  We relaxed for a couple of hours, then,  showered and went out to explore the campus and the town around 6:30.  I felt guilty just laying around in our room but was too tired to get up and walk the campus.  I rationalized it by saying we would do it tomorrow morning before leaving for the Clinton Museum.

Inn At Carnal Hall On U Of Arkansas Campus

Around 6:30, we walked uptown, which is on the edge of the Old Main, the center of the old campus. We walked down Dickson Street, the main street adjacent to campus, filled with one bar or restaurant after another, with a clothing shop occasionally thrown in.  They all looked neat, places you might want to have a beer or a burger, some even had roof top bars, others had their doors and windows open because it was such a mild night.  It was quiet because students were gone, the bars and restaurants slow.  We stopped in Farrell's, recommended by the desk clerk, sat down to a beer and three really tasty sliders.

Hand Cut Fries And A Beer At Hugo's

Since it was fairly quiet, with few customers, we decided to walk down to the old time campus bar and dive called Hugo's, just off the town square.  Dive is a good word to describe it, set down some stairs, dark and campy, looking as if it had not changed in twenty years but also packed with locals we assume.  We did get a seat at the bar, and Evie ordered a huge basket of hand cut fries and I had a fried catfish po'boy.  The fries would have been enough for both of us.  It was a local hangout, good food and vibes but a bit hyper, as the wait staff was constantly on the move.  We walked home in twilight, tired and full, ready, we hope for a good night's sleep so we are up for a busy Thursday.