Highest-rated museums in Arkansas by visitors

Museums are popular tourist attractions because they provide fun ways to learn about history, science, and culture. As stewards of our civilization, they collect and exhibit items of significant importance, typically based around a theme, topic, or place. Many cover areas like art, natural history, or science, but some museums dedicate themselves to highly specific topics like mustard, play, hot air balloons, and even funeral history. Ultimately, museums present a window into different eras of society so people can learn about the past.

Collecting, preserving, and displaying items is not a new idea. The world's first museum dates to about 530 B.C., a project of Princess Ennigaldi-Nanna, a Babylonian who had a collection of Mesopotamian artifacts. The oldest public museums still in existence are the Capitoline Museums in Rome, a collection of art and archeology museums started in 1471. America's oldest museum predates our country's founding. The Charleston Museum, a preservation of South Carolinian Lowcountry history, opened in 1773.

Museums are important not just because they preserve important elements of our history and culture but also because they can improve our well-being. Naturally, museums promote education and learning and can also bring joy. Researchers studying art museums found that they can reduce depression and increase people's sense of belonging. Quiet museum environments allow people to slow down and relax, and looking at exhibits can reduce stress. Museums also foster community by hosting events, activities, and tours that encourage social interaction.

No wonder they attract nearly 900 million visits a year.

With over 30,000 museums in the country to choose from, there's something for everyone. Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated museums in Arkansas on Tripadvisor as of Aug. 11, 2025. Tripadvisor rankings factor in the average rating and number of reviews. Keep reading to see what museums are in your own home state.

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#30. Fort Smith Museum of History

- Rating: 4.1/5 (137 reviews)
- City: Fort Smith
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#29. Sultana Disaster Museum

- Rating: 4.7/5 (64 reviews)
- City: Marion
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#28. Arkansas Air Museum

- Rating: 4.3/5 (59 reviews)
- City: Fayetteville
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#27. 21C Museum

- Rating: 4.5/5 (173 reviews)
- City: Bentonville
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#26. United States Marshals Museum

- Rating: 4.8/5 (29 reviews)
- City: Fort Smith
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#25. Clinton House Museum

- Rating: 4.0/5 (115 reviews)
- City: Fayetteville
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#24. Daisy Airgun Museum

- Rating: 4.5/5 (180 reviews)
- City: Rogers
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#23. Mountain Valley Spring Water Visitor Center & Museum

- Rating: 4.2/5 (194 reviews)
- City: Hot Springs
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#22. Historic Arkansas Museum

- Rating: 4.4/5 (188 reviews)
- City: Little Rock
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#21. Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum

- Rating: 4.6/5 (176 reviews)
- City: North Little Rock
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#20. Ka Do Ha Indian Village

- Rating: 4.0/5 (199 reviews)
- City: Murfreesboro
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#19. Buckyball At Crystal Bridges

- Rating: 4.5/5 (109 reviews)
- City: Bentonville
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#18. Ozark Mountains

- Rating: 4.7/5 (20 reviews)
- City: not available
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#17. Esse Purse Museum & Store

- Rating: 4.7/5 (223 reviews)
- City: Little Rock
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#16. Arkansas Museum Of Fine Arts

- Rating: 4.5/5 (166 reviews)
- City: Little Rock
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#15. Old State House Museum

- Rating: 4.4/5 (406 reviews)
- City: Little Rock
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#14. Tiny Town

- Rating: 4.4/5 (85 reviews)
- City: Hot Springs
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#13. Retroverse Museum (Formerly The Galaxy Connection)

- Rating: 4.4/5 (213 reviews)
- City: Hot Springs
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#12. Miss Laura's Brothel Museum

- Rating: 4.6/5 (202 reviews)
- City: Fort Smith
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#11. Scott Family Amazeum

- Rating: 4.6/5 (229 reviews)
- City: Bentonville
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#10. Peel Museum & Botanical Garden

- Rating: 4.2/5 (179 reviews)
- City: Bentonville
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#9. Ozark Folk Center State Park

- Rating: 4.6/5 (454 reviews)
- City: Mountain View
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#8. Museum Of Discovery

- Rating: 4.5/5 (349 reviews)
- City: Little Rock
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#7. Gangster Museum of America

- Rating: 3.9/5 (669 reviews)
- City: Hot Springs
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#6. Museum of Native American History

- Rating: 4.8/5 (1,023 reviews)
- City: Bentonville
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#5. Mid-America Science Museum

- Rating: 4.6/5 (607 reviews)
- City: Hot Springs
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#4. The Walmart Museum

- Rating: 4.4/5 (1,840 reviews)
- City: Bentonville
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#3. William J. Clinton Presidential Library

- Rating: 4.4/5 (2,659 reviews)
- City: Little Rock
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#2. Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site

- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,270 reviews)
- City: Little Rock
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#1. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

- Rating: 4.8/5 (4,641 reviews)
- City: Bentonville
- Read more on Tripadvisor

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.

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