Sam Walton’s truck sits outside his first store in Bentonville, Arkansas, now the Walmart Museum, and harks backs to the time before his meteoric rise to Walmart fame.
Kate Cousins Photography Courtesy of Visit Bentonville
Full disclosure: I am not a museum person. Despite my age, I often see them through kids’ eyes—as repositories for dusty relics and things of the past that have no relevance to my life today. But there is hope for me yet, as I discovered on a visit to Bentonville.
There, in the main square, was a retro storefront that took me back to old TV shows, when shoppers would approach the counter with a list and the employee would do all the shopping, securing the items, bagging them, and adding the cost to the customer’s account. I wandered in, curious about what I would find, and indeedy, it was like stepping back in time.
The Walmart Museum is housed in the original Walton’s 5&10 store owned by Sam Walton, who moved to Bentonville with his new wife in 1950 and called it his home until his death. Inside the door, you are greeted with an old-timey store selling vintage candy like hard lemon drops and Sugar Babies. Then you’ll take a self-guided tour through the museum, learning the history of the Walton family and walking the timeline that illustrates the growth of Walmart.
Kids of all ages learn about Sam Walton’s legacy at the Walmart Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas.
Drager Creative Courtesy of Visit Bentonville
Displays and informational placards along the way are fascinating. Did you know Walton was the first to conceive of the idea of “self-service shopping,” in which shoppers walk the aisles and select their own merchandise? Did you know that he commissioned a manufacturer to create a plastic hose to transform the expensive hula hoop (all the rage at the time) into an affordable toy for everyone? These are the trivia tidbits you’ll enjoy as you make your way through the museum.
It’s truly inspiring to witness the innovations and entrepreneurship behind Walmart’s stratospheric growth from the time the first store opened in 1962 until today. The company exploded in the 1970s after going public on the New York Stock Exchange, at the same time adopting the infamous slogan “everyday low prices,” a genius marketing move during a hard-hitting recession. While all of this will impress you, you’ll also find it relatable.
Here’s why. As you gaze at the display cases, you’ll recognize most, if not all of the items, depending on your age. You’ll see toys you played with as a kid and toys you purchased for your own kids. You’ll recognize that old, loud hairdryer and that painful electric razor and every household item you’ve ever owned. The first floor is really a stroll through pop culture, and people of every generation can appreciate it.
The timeline of Walmart’s rise is so interesting, you’ll find yourself reading every placard and remembering the good old days.
Drager Creative Courtesy of Visit Bentonville
The second floor transports you to the 21st century, and the exhibits cleverly reflect that. They incorporate technology and introduce interactive components that are a lot of fun. You’ll also learn about Walmart’s extensive philanthropic efforts, including working with Dolly Parton to raise many millions of dollars for communities in need. In one room meant to look like a studio, visitors can ask a hologram Sam Walton a question and get an answer, something that will likely go viral on Instagram once the word is out.
Of course, much of the museum is dedicated to Sam Walton himself. You’ll see his office, recreated as he left it, along with the old pickup truck he never traded in for a shinier model. Why would he? As he said, a sports car wouldn’t carry his hunting dogs, guns, and fishing poles. Walton never adopted pretention, never put on airs. He became interchangeable with Bentonville, with hard work, with innovation, and with humility, and those lessons are pleasantly surprising takeaways from the Walmart Museum.
