Bentonville's Amazeum Celebrates Grand Opening July 15
It's official. We're in love with Bentonville's brand-new family discovery center, the Scott Family Amazeum! This week, Little Rock Family got a sneak peek of the new center before its grand opening on Wednesday, July 15. Our verdict: The Amazeum is indeed amazing and definitely worth a road trip for families in central Arkansas.
Situated near the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, the museum for families is the first of its kind in Northwest Arkansas. The modern building features approximately 20,000 square feet of exhibit space, and it is a wonderland for kids of all ages. Most of the exhibits and activities require interaction and collaboration. During the recent member preview events, Erik Smith, the Director of Exhibits says he witnessed children and parents from different families playing together.
The major exhibits include:
- Nickelodeon Play Lab: Craft a video in the Stop Motion Animation Studio; bang, drum and chime on a musical tower filled with noise-makers; and use levers, wheels, plungers and more to bring a massive SpongeBob SquarePants to life (he flips a Krabby Patty while riding his scooter!).
- Market Sponsored by Walmart: Little ones can role play as customers picking up groceries, employees at the check-out counter, butchers and bakers preparing orders, or even a patron ordering a pretend sandwich in the cafe.
- Homestead Cabin & Farm: Explore the life of pioneers and early Arkansas settlers. Kids can gather eggs from the hens, pick veggies from the garden, snag apples in the orchard, wash laundry in a tub and hang it out to dry, weave at the loom, and cook in the cabin's fireplace.
- General Mills Lift, Load and Haul: Help pack a real diesel truck in this exhibit that mimics a loading dock. Multiple contraptions and conveyer belts encourage kids to work together to sort and manage a flow of colored blocks. In this section, kids can also send scarves and pom pom balls flying through the air tubes--always a favorite activity!
- Nature Valley Water Amazements: This water play room is the largest we've seen at any of the area museums and play spaces, and includes a rain maker, water vortex, pumps, basins, spirals and more. Aprons and umbrellas are provided, but kids will probably get wet in this splashy section. Don't worry--that's what the dryers are for!
- Cave & Canopy Climber: Strap on a headlamp and explore the cave (you'll find bats on the ceiling and quartz crystals, too!). Then, head above ground and climb the giant leaves of a tree, which stretches all the way to the tall ceiling. Take a break to bird watch, too!
- Emerging Explorers: Little ones ages 2 and under get a break from the big kids in a quiet section that includes a small slide and mini cave, soft playthings and plush animals.
- Weather & Nature: A small section shows how different natural phenomena occur, from earthquake vibrations to tornado spirals.
- Traveling Exhibits: A large exhibit area for traveling shows currently houses two science exhibits: "Science on the Move" and "Secrets of Circles."
Other areas include:
- Hershey's Lab: According to the museum, this is the only Hershey's Lab outside of the Hershey's headquarters in Pennsylvania! Pre-register for a spot in these workshops that explore the science of chocolate.
- 3M Tinkering Hub: Kids ages 7 and up can figure out how things work in daily workshops. During our visit, kids were drawing animation strips to bring to life in a zoetrope and exploring circuit blocks, too.
- Art Studio: Little ones can paint to their hearts' content, wipe away their work and start over again!
In addition, approximately one acre of outdoor space will accommodate year-round learning and provide a backdrop for experiments and workshops inspired by the seasons. While the outdoor space was not open on the day of Little Rock Family's visit, the museum plans for it to be completed by opening day.
The museum will also begin offering "Unfield" Trips on October 5. Learning Lofts and an Educator Resource Room will also be available. For more info, click here.
General admission is $9.50; children under 2 free. Family memberships are available and start at $95 per year for a family of four. For information, click here.
The Scott Family Amazeum will open to the public July 15. Through Labor Day, hours are 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Mon. & Wed., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thu.-Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun. Find out more at Amazeum.org.
