Last Updated on October 3, 2022 by Ellen Christian
I’ve always been fascinated by Walmart and how it became what it is today. It’s probably got something to do with my degree in marketing or my fascination with shopping.
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Walmart Visitor’s Center
I knew when I visited Bentonville, Arkansas that it was going to be one of the places I had to see. Of course, you cannot wander into Walmart’s headquarters to take a look but I did have a chance to visit the Walmart Visitor’s Center in downtown Bentonville.
Walmart Visitor’s Center is located where Sam Walton’s first Ben Franklin five and dime store was – on the town square in Bentonville.
Walmart’s Visitor Center is separated into three parts:
- The 5&10 store in the front is a functional store with the original floor tiles and an original tin ceiling. You’ll think that you stepped back in time with the selection of toys, books and candy from years ago.
- The interactive exhibit gallery is a museum dedicated to the history of Walmart from the very first store until current times. You can look at a timeline that tracks the company’s history and success, see personal effects from Sam Walton’s life, and look and touch a variety of different interactive displays. They even have Sam Walton’s old Ford F-150 parked in the gallery!
- The Spark Cafe is available for you to stop and enjoy some locally roasted coffee and baked goods from Walmart, Sam’s Club and Neighborhood Market.
The Walmart Visitor Center is conveniently located in downtown Bentonville. You can easily walk to several restaurants or do a little bit of window shopping while you’re there.
There is something for everyone at the Walmart Visitor’s Center. I loved seeing all the old time penny candy available at the 5&10 store and if you have younger children, you’ll love being able to buy them some of the toys you played with (or your parents played with) when you were young.
I was particularly fascinated by the interactive exhibit gallery. It was so much fun looking at some of the older products you used to be able to buy at Walmart in their original packaging that was used back in the early 1900s.
We didn’t have a chance to grab a snack at the Spark Cafe this time but if I ever go back, it’s definitely on my list.
For more information:
105 N. Main Street
Bentonville, AR
(479) 273-1329
Monday – Thursday
8 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Friday & Saturday
8 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Sunday
Noon – 5 p.m.
Ellen is a busy mom of a 24-year-old son and 29-year-old daughter. She owns six blogs and is addicted to social media. She believes that it doesn’t have to be difficult to lead a healthy life. She shares simple healthy living tips to show busy women how to lead fulfilling lives. If you’d like to work together, email info@confessionsofanover-workedmom.com to chat.
Interesting. I had no idea this existed.
I really had no idea that this even existed. Since I do shop at Walmart often, I think this visitors center would be pretty interesting to check out.
i didnt know Walmart had a visitors center like this. Looks like an interesting place to check out !
That Ford truck and 5&10 store won me over! How cool is that. I am always intrigued by history and this looks like a fun place to visit.
Wow! The 5&10 store sounds amazing! I would love to check it out!
i never realized you could visit a place like this- what fun !! i love old time stores — one of my favorite things to look for on vacation
Very neat! I can still remember when Walmart came to Canada in the late 90s! It’s still fairly new here.
I’d really like the look back at the old products too. That’s neat!
That would be a really cool place to look around it, wow!
If I ever make it up there I’m definitely stopping by. Then I can drop in on my Cbias pepps also. Very cool.
This is honestly my first time ever reading about a Walmart Visitor Center! It sounds very interesting and I would love to visit it someday!
Wow – that’s so cool! I would love to visit – it looks very interesting!
Whenever I hear “Bentonville” I immediately thing of Walmart because that is the hotline number I have written on my printout of their coupon policy, LOL! I had no idea they had a visitorus center too.
*visitors!
I think this would be so fascinating to visit. I love to see items available from the past and share them with my kids, like the penny candy. Whenever I see any candy I had as a child I pick up some for the kids.
interesting to see where walmart originated. Certainly has changed quite a bit!