All the arts cause us to feel something, anything. You can love it or hate it, but you do feel something when you hear music, read a poem or passage, or view a performance. Visual art is all around us, whether in a museum or on the street. A couple of weeks ago, I was in Bentonville, Arkansas, visiting Crystal Bridges Museum, an always fabulous place. Two of my friends said not to miss seeing 21C, a museum hotel in the old downtown area, so we went there for a late lunch. We missed the lunch hours, but had a fabulous hamburger in the bar and got to experience what they were talking about. I hear the rooms are terrific, too.
There are 3 of these hotels out there now, Louisville, Cincinnati, and Bentonville, with new ones planned in Kansas City and Oklahoma City. These hotels boast their own museums within the hotels, basically everywhere you look. If the restaurants are all as great as the one in Bentonville, they are double winners. My daughter and I walked around the outside and the lobby, enjoying or discussing everything we saw. Here are some examples, although I didn’t take photos of some of my favorites inside. Those are for you to discover.
We first saw the basketball tower as we approached the museum. One of these would keep my grandkids busy for hours.
The footed car outside reminded me of a Flintstones car. Whatever, it made us laugh.
The bench by the front door was perfect for a hotel. Loved the creativity of this one.
Inside, there were some incredible pieces to discover. This one caught our eye, because how could you miss this huge chandelier hanging low in the corner. Definitely a conversation piece.
These bodies inflated and deflated as you watched, making an eerie statement of some kind. We interpreted it in different ways, but we didn’t ignore it.
There was an incredibly intricate drawing of a haunted dollhouse with details to keep you looking for more and more weird things while you marveled at the skill of the artist. There were beautiful beaded items, and paintings and other sculptures scattered around the lobby and beyond. They even give tours each day.
One of the fun things about the hotels is that there are penguins all around, even on the outside of the building. They use them as stanchions and for overall whimsy. The hotel in Bentonville has green penguins, the one in Louisville has red penguins, and the one in Cincinnati has yellow penguins. I love penguins, so this was just a fun bonus. Who doesn’t love penguins.
If you’re near a 21C Museum Hotel, I suggest you stop in. It’s worth the trip. I’m planning to return to Bentonville for a girls’ weekend to see the rooms. I want the whole 21C experience!
Happy Travels!
Confetti Thoughts 