Crystal, BBs & Peas

September 27, 2015

Park Ridge RV Park
Van Buren, Arkansas

Friday was filled with visits to the birthplace of Walmart, Crystal Bridges, Daisy Airgun Museum and a Civil War site.

A trip to Arkansas isn't complete without a stop at the first store owned by Sam Walton.  The store faces the town square and was originally a Ben Franklin franchise. 













This is a photo of the town square.  In the middle a large statue and fountain commemorate the area Confederate soldiers.















A large amount of art is sprinkled everywhere around the area.  I thought this outdoor sculpture offered a much better chance of scoring a basket than the typical one.









 
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is a spectacular art gallery developed by Sam Walton's daughter, Alice.  The very modern architecture is blended into the country side with many trails around outdoor sculpture and numerous streams and lakes. 

This large spider guarded an interior courtyard.

An original Frank Lloyd Wright house in New Jersey has been disassembled and transported to the museum.  At the present time it is being reassembled and will be open to the public in about a month.




There were lots of elderly men at this museum.  I think they were reliving their childhoods.

We were lucky that our stop at Pea Ridge coincided with their annual reenactment.  One reenactor told us he always slept on the porch because he thought the buildings were haunted.  They also played base ball but their rules were a little different than what the Roosters used to follow.

This nice little park was right next to our campsite.

Yesterday we started at the Ft Smith Visitor Center.  It is located in a building that used to be the premiere bordello in town.  It has been carefully restored and free tours of the building are given by the staff.

Considering the way the place was furnished, I think Miss Laura's business did very well.

This was the gallows at Ft Smith where 6 people were hung at one time.  "Hanging" Judge Parker dispenced a swift brand of justice.













After the courthouse was moved into town from Ft. Smith, this wagon was used to transport prisoners between the jail at the fort and the courthouse downtown.