The Basketball Tree
The story goes that a little boy was wistfully dreaming of having a basketball net he could always use. A kind and enterprising man sketched out a design of a basketball tree, and built it. The original was placed in a public park, later moved to outside a museum. The idea has since been copied.
Now you can see it in Bentonville, Arkansaww USA. It is being moved from a park to the local museum.
The museum traces the history of Walmart, the USA store.
Wikivoyage found me no less than 8 museums in Bentonville.
Fortunately, one of the comments said the basketball tree was in a hotel museum. I tracked that down. 21cmuseumhotels.
21c Museum Hotels
21c stand for 21st century. The founding couple saw that their city had landscape being preserved and funded whilst hsitoric buidlings were languishing. They were into art and decided to renovate historic buildings as hotels and install modern art in hotels. New into old. Old into new. There are now half a dozen of these hotels, which have won several awards from Conde Nast. You can link up to them and learn about them in Wikipedia, Facebook and other places.
Now, where exactly are they?Chicago. Bentonville.
Bentonville
Bentonville - how to remember the name? My husband quips, 'I was in Bentonville.' (A pun on the name of the UK prison, Pentonville.)
The name Benton is the surname of a man who campaigned for the statehood of Arkansas..
Arkansas
The name of the state is pronounced ark - an- saw. Something to do with the French version of a native American name for a bow or arc shape on a river. If you ask for er-Kansas you will end up in Kansas.
The flag features a diamond because it is the only US state producing diamonds. The state is nicknamed the natural state. You can enjoy lots of trails, walking and hiking trhough the countryside. A seventeen mile loop along the river offers opportunitie to walkers, runners, bikers and hikers.
Where is Arkansas in the USA. It is south central, landlocked. Neighbouring states include Texas, if you want to make a two-state trip or a side trip.
When should you or could you go there? Unusual events include the annual toad race. And duck calling.
The Toad Race
What's the difference between a toad and a frog? You are more likely to find frogs in fish ponds.Toads spend more time on dry land and have dry skin.
Duck Calling At Thanksgiving
So, to sum up, something for fans of history, the history of American shopping stores, sports - basketball, wildlife - frogs and ducks - unusual and jolly events. Finally, to get away from it all, trails.
Where next?
Little Rock - Big Capital - People
The capital of Arkansas is Little Rock. Named after the landmark little rock on the Arkansas river. Nowadays travellers arrive at the Bill and Hillary Clinton airport. Former President Bill Clinton was born here. Note that Hillary is spelled with a double L, like her husband Bill and hill and will. .
Things to do, 'big in little rock', they say, are monuments and museums connected with black history, military hsitory and Vietnam Veterans.
See the monument of statues to nine black American students who enrolled in a white college and started the process of desegregation..
To sum up, Bentonville is the place to be. Bentonville's attractions include numerous word starting with B, the Basketball tree, the Birthplace of Walmart, a brewery, and biking region. You arrive at the Bill and Hillary Clinton airport.
Useful Websites
Wikivoyage Bentonville
Basketball Tree on you tube
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Do_yH-WTNUw
https://21cmuseumhotels.com/museum/orange-tree/
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