Due to the large number of visitors anticipated for the Nov. 11 opening of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, officials announced on Tuesday that reserved, timed tickets will be required from Nov. 11 through Jan. 2.
Tickets may be reserved online by visiting crystalbridges.org, or by calling 479-418-5700 between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Tickets will still be free thanks to the $20 million donation the museum received from Walmart this summer.
An opening ceremony is scheduled on the morning of Nov. 11 in the Bentonville town square. The first group of timed ticket holders will be allowed to enter the museum following the ceremony at 12:30 p.m.
Timed tickets will be available for entry at half-hour intervals from 12:30 through 9 p.m. on Nov. 11. Once inside the museum, visitors may stay as long as they like. All visitors, age one and up, will need a reserved ticket to enter the museum. Infants do not need tickets. Visitors should plan to arrive 30 minutes prior to the entry time on the ticket.
Parking for opening day will be at Orchards Park, across Northeast J Street from the entrance to the museum grounds. Complimentary shuttles will be provided to carry visitors to and from the museum entrance.
Eleven, the museum’s restaurant, will be open from 12:30 to 10 p.m. on opening day. To ensure quicker service and accommodate the large number of guests expected, Eleven will offer a limited menu selection. Seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Crystal Bridges trails and grounds also will be open to the public on Nov. 11. No ticket or prior reservation is necessary to explore the trails.
For more information, visit crystalbridges.org.
