When the fridge is completely empty and the kids are all in need of clothes for school, you can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that Walmart is a budget friendly one stop shop. Always there to greet you with a bright yellow smiley face logo, Walmart has over 6,000 locations internationally.
What most people don’t consider though, is that Walmart’s history is rich with heritage. So rich in fact, that they have their very own museum to showcase where it all started: Bentonville.
The Wal-Mart Museum is open Monday-Thursday from 8am-9pm, Friday-Saturday from 8am-10pm, and Sunday from 12pm-9pm. With free admission, the Walmart Museum is a slice of history you won’t want to miss.
Walton’s Five & Dime
The entrance to the Walmart Museum is a nostalgic, quaint spot called Walton’s Five & Dime. This former Ben Franklin five and dime franchise is what Sam Walton owned before Walmart became the retail mecca we know and love today.
Walton’s Five & Dime opened at 105 Main Street, Bentonville in 1950. The building now functions as the front door to the massive museum inside. Visitors may be surprised to learn that Walton’s Five & Dime still functions as a store today, where you can buy knick-knacks, nostalgic candies, and toys.
Inside the Museum
The Walmart museum itself opened in 1990 as the Walmart Visitors Center. When the term “Visitors Center” began being used nationally as a place for travelers to get acquainted with their destinations, it was clear that a name change was in order—thus, the Walmart Museum was born. There are several interesting and unique exhibits housed within the museum, all of which are rich with Walmart history.
Exhibits within the Walmart Museum range from artifacts highlighting Walton’s early dreams of what Walmart would someday grow to be, to the numerous logos the retail empire has displayed over time. There are handwritten ledgers within the museum that are worth seeing, as well as a machine that creates user-unique bar codes on Walmart style name tags. Don’t miss out on seeing Sam Walton’s pick-up truck, as well as his bride’s wedding gown.
Be sure to sneak a peek at Sam Walton’s office! Amongst the clutter of legal pads and pens is a thick air of historical content—left just the way Walton left it when he passed in 1992.
The Spark Café Soda Fountain
On your way out of the museum is a historically nostalgic soda fountain shop called The Spark Café. Sam Walton loved his family, his country—and his ice cream. Since The Spark Café is cleverly placed at the exit of the museum, you won’t want to miss this opportunity to grab a bite to eat on your way out.
Looking For a Deal?
The Walmart museum is rich with historical content, and so is our beautiful Bentonville. It’s just one of the many reasons why Bentonville and the surrounding areas are a truly unique place to live. If that sounds like something you’re in the market for, Contact Us today and let the friendly team at Burnett Real Estate Team find you a great deal on the home you’ve been waiting for!
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