Bentonville's $21.5M 'Amazeum' opens to the public

Move over Crystal Bridges. There’s a new museum in town.

Yesterday, the $21.5 million Scott Family Amazeum opened its doors to the public in Bentonville, Ark. The 50,000-square-foot museum – a first of its kind in northwest Arkansas – features exhibits including a market sponsored by Wal-Mart, a water play room, a pioneer-themed cabin and farm, a weather and nature section, and a Hershey’s chocolate lab – the company’s first outside of Pennsylvania.

Beyond the educational museum’s doors, an acre of land allows for outdoor learning and exploration. Plans for the facility – which is expected to host 165,000 visitors in its first year – were put into motion in 2006 with a $10 million grant from the Walton family. The Amazeum is named after the Lee Scott Family, who have demonstrated support for the project both financially and through their time and talents, according to Arkansas Business.

Read more from Arkansas Business.