Are there any mud-caked cars in Bentonville? I didn't see any.

OK, so it rained when I arrived there recently. But that doesn't explain the extraordinary number of commercial car washes along South Walton Boulevard. Memberships are available for frequent users.

This is an orderly town, from its fully functioning timed crosswalks at busy intersections (after pushing a button, they shout "Wait!" at appropriate moments to keep pedestrians from wandering into the path of one of those clean cars) to clearly marked turn lanes on major streets and signage that accurately directs visitors to area attractions.

I was in Bentonville to attend a press preview of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art's 114,000-square-foot expansion, which opened June 6. It's a "defining moment for the museum," said Rod Bigelow, the museum's executive director, with "all new spaces and greater access for all to celebrate the American spirit through nature, art, and architecture."

Crystal Bridges, which opened Nov. 11, 2011, has attracted 17 million visitors to date. Its increased size will likely bring back those who think they've already seen what it has to offer while attracting plenty of newcomers.

The ability to drift from gallery to........

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