April 10, 2022

WALMART MUSEUM

105 N Main St, Bentonville, AR  72712

“The Walmart Museum is as much a part of Walmart’s history as the exhibits and artifacts that it houses. First opened in 1990, the museum was known as the Walmart Visitor Center. But as times changed and the term "Visitor Center" came to refer more to regional, state, and local tourism offices, it became apparent that a name change was needed. And so, today, The Walmart Museum carries on the mission it always has: to honor Walmart’s legacy, demonstrate its core values, and cast a vision of Walmart tomorrow.” – tripadvisor.com

I was in the area so, of course, I had to take in this museum. The museum is housed in the building where Sam Walton owned his first Ben Franklin Department Store.  Not wanting to spend a lot of time here, I skipped the video playing near the entrance, mainly because I didn’t know how long it was and where it was in its loop. The museum has a timeline running around the outer walls as well as panels in the middle of the rooms, all telling the story of Sam Walton and his family’s emergence as one of the biggest retailers in the world.  Joining the timeline is a replica of Sam’s office along with the pickup truck he used to go hunting.  I was expecting a few more exhibits, like possibly a counter from his original store, but the focus was on the timeline.  As expected, the museum touted Walton’s business plan and Walmart’s ideology as a customer-first focus. 

My big take-away from my visit, Sam Walton started his retail career at J.C. Penney’s in Des Moines, IA.