Landmark expansion set to open June 6-7
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BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art announces the installation of two historic Tiffany Studios stained-glass windows: Mountain Landscape (Root Memorial Window) (1917) and the Arkansas State Window (c. 1931). Both are on view in Crystal Bridges’ Visions of America Galleries, ahead of the museum’s historic expansion, opening June 6 and 7. The windows enhance the intersection of art, architecture, and nature at the museum and expand the range of objects through which the museum tells the stories of American art.
The installation comes as Crystal Bridges prepares to revolutionize the art museum experience and expand access to five centuries of American Art by adding another 114,000-square-feet of new space, designed by Safdie Architects, and showcasing a transformed way for visitors to interact with every part of the building – facilitating surprise and delight, joyful learning, and ever-broadening American stories. Crystal Bridges sits on a 134-acre campus along with Heartland Whole Health Institute and Alice L. Walton School of Medicine.
“The installation of these extraordinary windows is deeply meaningful for Crystal Bridges. They exemplify the skilled making and creative vision of Tiffany Studios, revealing the power of glass transformed through experimentation, skill, and luminous effects,” said Jen Padgett, Windgate curator of craft. “As we prepare to open our expanded galleries this June, these works reflect the museum’s growing commitment to craft and to broadening the materials and traditions represented in our vision of American art.”
The museum acquired Mountain Landscape (Root Memorial Window) in 2025, a monumental stained-glass masterpiece created by Tiffany Studios and attributed to designer Agnes F. Northrop. Originally commissioned by the Woodmen of the World organization as a tribute to its founder, Joseph Cullen Root, the window was first installed in the company’s headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1917.
Measuring more than nine feet tall, the window exemplifies Louis Comfort Tiffany’s signature effects of vibrantly colored glass to depict a cascading waterfall framed by lush foliage. Activated by changes in natural light over the course of the day, the window’s subtle shifts of color evoke the spiritual experience of a wooded landscape. Crystal Bridges acquired the window from Sunset Ridge Church and Collective in San Antonio, Texas, where it illuminated the chapel for 94 years. Through a joint initiative to preserve the window for future generations and ensure it continues to inspire the public, Crystal Bridges and Sunset Ridge collaborated closely on the project of relocating the work to the museum, reflecting the dedication of both institutions to stewardship, accessibility, and community storytelling.
Following a meticulous, multi-phase conservation process by nationally recognized Nzilani Glass Conservation, led by founder and principal conservator Ariana Makau, Mountain Landscape is now presented in a dedicated gallery installation designed to highlight Tiffany Studios’ innovative approach to color, texture, and light. Custom lighting heightens the window’s luminous effects. Created specifically for this installation, the system allows for future variation and experimentation with brightness levels and tone, offering new ways to experience the expressive qualities of the glass.
The Arkansas State Window is part of the program of additional Tiffany windows created in 1931, when Mountain Landscape was relocated from Omaha to the chapel of a tuberculosis hospital founded by Woodmen of the World in San Antonio. Woodmen of the World commissioned lancet windows from Tiffany Studios representing each state where the organization conducted business. Gifted to the museum by Sunset Ridge, Arkansas State Window further expands the story of Mountain Landscape in the Crystal Bridges galleries, showing the rich history of the larger window’s movement and unexpected connections across time and place. Bryant J. Stanton and his team at Stanton Studios in Waco, Texas, oversaw the treatment of the Arkansas State Window.
The Visions of America Galleries feature a core experience designed to inspire curiosity and offer a high-level introduction to five centuries of American art through the Crystal Bridges collection. The newly installed windows will deepen Crystal Bridges’ commitment to showcasing American creativity, creating new opportunities for visitors to engage with remarkable works of art.
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About Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
The mission of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is to welcome all to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature. Since opening in 2011, the museum has welcomed more than 15 million visitors across its spaces, with no cost for admission. Crystal Bridges was founded in 2005 as a public 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization by philanthropist Alice Walton. The collection spans five centuries of American masterworks from early American to current day and is enhanced by temporary exhibitions.
The museum is nestled on 134 acres of Ozark landscape and was designed by the world-renowned Safdie Architects. A rare Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house was preserved and relocated to the museum grounds in 2015. Crystal Bridges offers public programs including lectures, performances, classes, and teacher development opportunities, and is the home of the prestigious Don Tyson Prize for the Advancement of American Art and Tyson Scholars of American Art Program. Some 558,375 school children have participated in the Willard and Pat Walker School Visit program, which provides educational experiences for school groups at no cost to the schools.
Additional museum amenities include a restaurant, gift store, library, and five miles of art and walking trails. In February 2020, the museum opened the Momentary in Downtown Bentonville (507 SE E Street), a venue for the music, art, and food of our time. Crystal Bridges’ 114,000 square foot expansion will open to the public June 6 and 7, 2026, allowing the museum to expand access for all. For more information, visit CrystalBridges.org. The museum is located at 600 Museum Way, Bentonville, Arkansas 72712.
About Crystal Bridges Campus
Crystal Bridges Campus in Bentonville, Arkansas, features 134 acres dedicated to art and wellness. It is home to three landmark institutions designed by acclaimed architecture firms: Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art (Safdie Architects), Heartland Whole Health Institute (Marlon Blackwell Architects), and Alice L. Walton School of Medicine (Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects). Envisioned by founder and philanthropist Alice Walton, the campus unites art, architecture, nature, education, and wellness to create transformative experiences that foster learning and enhance health and well-being. More than five miles of trails connect the iconic buildings, featuring art installations both inside and outside. The campus terrain varies from Ozark forest to display gardens, and includes streams, ponds, and Crystal Springs. In 2024, the campus received Arboretum accreditation. The campus is open daily from dawn to dusk. Additionally, the Momentary, an extension of Crystal Bridges, is located 1 mile south of campus.
Media Contact
media@crystalbridges.org