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As someone who views shopping as a competitive sport, I have long found great success exploring museum stores year-round for gifts for all occasions. With the holiday shopping season officially kicking off, here is a list of such stores in Arkansas that you can visit in person or online for well-curated, thoughtful gifts you won’t find in big box stores.
Amazeum
If you’re shopping for your children or other young people, what better place to start than Bentonville’s Amazeum, a museum geared toward kids. Though best visited in person, their Curiosity Corner makes it just as easy to browse online for one-of-a-kind educational gifts for kids of all ages.
From books, games and puzzles to science and space exploration, the Scott Family Amazeum is all about bringing life to learning and enhancing family involvement. At the Curiosity Corner, they provide curated gifts, tools and toys that can bring curiosity and creativity home with you. All their product selections are centered around S.T.E.A.M. principles and are geared towards encouraging life-long learning.
At their Shop Small event on Saturday, Nov. 30, the Amazeum will host five local makers who will showcase their products and share creative processes. Explore the Tinkering Hub, Tinkering Workshop and E-Shop, all filled with unique, locally-made items; no admission required.
Upstairs, explore free and paid activities like creating a winter wonderland, building your own snow globe, and trying out products from Curiosity Corner.
Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts
The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts offers an inspiring array of visual, performing arts and educational experiences. The AMFA Foundation provides the community with a 14,000-object permanent collection, compelling temporary exhibitions, lively theatre and enriching courses.
AMFA’s gift shop is one of my favorite places in Arkansas to shop. They have created a holiday gift guide that is as sleek and refined as they are. Categorized by Arkansas-themed gifts, home and office, nature, and play, you are sure to find something for each person on your list.
You can shop in person and online, and they are also offering personalized shopping service by calling 501-396-0357. Members save 10%.
Crystal Bridges
The mission of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature. The gift shop at Crystal Bridges truly rivals most boutiques and gift shops at other nationally known art museums. The Shop is a one-of-a-kind in-person and online shopping experience for art prints, collectible art products, Crystal Bridges and The Momentary merchandise, and more. They offer a unique mix of high-design and trendy home decor and gifts, artisan jewelry and accessories, contemporary art, design and culture books and toys that spark creativity. Many of these items are inspired by the art, architecture and nature of Crystal Bridges.
Members also receive 10% off every purchase.
Mid-America Science Museum
Hot Springs-based Mid-America Science Museum was the first museum in Arkansas to be selected as a Smithsonian Affiliate. A pioneer in hands-on science learning, the Mid-America Science Museum has been a resource for innovative STEM education since its opening in 1979. Serving as a unique destination for generations of families for 40 years, the Mid-America Science Museum continues to provide an escape for curious minds of all ages.
The gift store offers a variety of products, including science kits, books, apparel and much more. Their goal is to provide items that align with the mission statement: “…To stimulate interest in science, promote public understanding of the sciences, and encourage lifelong science education through interactive exhibits and programs.”
Museum of Discovery
From its downtown Little Rock crook, the Museum of Discovery’s Explore Store has unique and educational gift items for all ages. From STEM kits to astronaut ice cream to plush animals that look like their Animal Ambassadors, you will find something for everyone.
Museum members receive an additional 10% off their purchase, and that discount is 20% off from Black Friday through Dec. 23.
The Gangster Museum of America
Although you might not find something here for every person on your list, you can’t get much more niche than Hot Springs’ Gangster Museum of America. Take yourself back to the days of the ‘20s, ‘30s, and ‘40s when mineral water, gambling and bootlegging brought visitors from all over the world to Hot Springs, Arkansas. The Gangster Museum of America is a historic and entertaining account of how some of the most notorious criminals in America co-existed with the quaint population of this little valley town in the mountains of central Arkansas.
The gift shop features apparel, stylish period headwear in The Hatterie and books that provide historical views of the city and region, including “Hot Springs: From Capone to Costello,” written by museum director Robert Raines.
U.S. Marshals Museum
It seems only appropriate that a state known for attracting gangsters also memorialize the lawmen who pursued them.
One of the newest museums in Arkansas, the U.S. Marshals Museum, opened July 1, 2023. The 53,000 square-foot Mary Carleton and Robert A. Young III Building and Samuel M. Sicard Hall of Honor were dedicated on Sept. 24, 2019, along the banks of the Arkansas River in Fort Smith. Featuring an iconic design, the museum shares the stories of the marshals who have served our nation.
The U.S. Marshals Museum in Fort Smith offers an expansive online version of its gift shop —The Outpost. From books and films to limited edition ornaments and other branded pins, badges and coins, you’re sure to find something for the Bass Reeves and Wild West fans in your life.
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