The opening of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas, brings a world-class art museum to northwest Arkansas. The museum is situated on land that belonged to Dr. Neil Compton from 1952 to 1978 when it was sold to the Walton family. There, Compton operated a nursery business he named Crystal Spring Gardens.
Neil Compton Map of Crystal Springs and Bentonville, ca. 1952. From the Neil Compton Papers (MC1091), Special Collections. University of Arkansas Libraries.
In 1952 he drew this map to show the connection between the nursery and the Compton family home and land, which is now open to the public as Compton Gardens. Hiking trails connect Crystal Bridges, Compton Gardens, and the Bentonville downtown square.
Neil Compton tending to azaleas in the area now home to Compton Gardens and the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Arts. From the Neil Compton Papers (MC1091).
A physician born and reared in Benton County, Dr. Neil Compton was also a dedicated conservationist. He was a founder of the Ozark Society, which led efforts to save the Buffalo River from being dammed, and served as president of the Benton County Historical Association. He received numerous commendations for his decades of work to preserve the natural beauty of his home state. The map shown here is now a part of the Neil Compton Papers (MC 1091) housed in the University of Arkansas Libraries Special Collections Department. The collection of Compton’s personal and professional papers includes log books and files from his work as a physician, as well as correspondence, project files, photographs, slides, films, and a variety of other materials.
For more information about the Neil Compton Papers or any of the other thousands of resources preserving the history of Arkansas available through the University of Arkansas Libraries, contact Special Collections, specoll@uark.edu, or visit the department in Mullins Library.