Inside Sam Walton’s Original Five and Dime Where the Walmart Empire Began in Arkansas

The Walmart Museum, Arkansas

Sam Walton opened his first Five and Dime in Bentonville back in 1950. Today that same brick storefront holds The Walmart Museum – complete with his original office, vintage toys, and their special ice cream.

Between his preserved office and that famous old truck, it’s a weirdly personal look at a retail revolution.

Sam drove his pickup until he died

You can now see Sam Walton’s 1979 Ford F-150 pickup with the driver’s side facing you for the first time. Even though he was worth billions, Sam drove this truck until he died in 1992, never wanting anything fancier.

The truck shows exactly 65,000 miles and still has his hunting dog’s tooth marks on the steering wheel. When asked why he drove such a simple vehicle, Sam famously said, ‘What am I supposed to haul my dogs around in, a Rolls-Royce?’

People love this truck so much that a copy was made for events, and in 2022, Jay Leno worked with Ford to create an electric F-150 Lightning version as a tribute.

You can chat with Sam through AI

The Sam Walton hologram uses AI to have real conversations with you when you visit. Made through teamwork between Walmart Heritage Group, StoryFile, and Proto, the hologram uses actual quotes from Sam’s book ‘Made in America’ and old recordings.

You’ll find the hologram in a special theater on the second floor, where Sam sits at the front answering questions about Walmart’s history and his business ideas.

The technology uses Sam’s real writing to shape responses, making talks feel personal and often moving visitors to tears.

The president came to Sam’s hometown

You’ll see the Presidential Medal of Freedom Sam Walton received just weeks before he died. When President George H.W. Bush offered to present the award anywhere Sam wanted, he picked Bentonville so his hometown and employees could share the moment.

The ceremony happened on March 17, 1992, in what’s now called the Sam M. Walton Auditorium.

In the museum, you can watch video of the full presidential speech, where Bush said that Sam’s success showed ‘through hard work, vision, and treating people right, many good things can happen.’

Sam joins other famous recipients like Pope John Paul II, Justice Thurgood Marshall, and Nelson Mandela.

Walmart really started in this store

At Walton’s 5&10, you can walk through a working store with real merchandise and fixtures from the 1950s.

The original green and red floor tiles from 1951 are still there, with their mismatched pattern because Sam saved money by buying discounted tile lots.

You’ll find vintage toys, candy, and nostalgic items that would have been for sale when Sam opened his business. You can buy special souvenirs like pens made from the original roof timbers replaced during renovation.

The store keeps the same layout and display methods Sam used when starting his retail empire.

His office has exactly 788 original items

Sam Walton’s office recreation shows his workspace just as it was when he used it. Museum staff documented and placed 788 real items in their exact original spots, making a perfect copy down to the smallest detail.

You can play an interactive game at this exhibit to learn interesting stories about various objects in the office.

You’ll get insights into Sam’s hands-on management style, seeing his modest desk, handwritten notes, and personal keepsakes all on display.

Unlike in the old museum where part of the office was hidden, the new design lets you see everything from all angles.

Get ice cream with Walmart history

The Spark Café offers real 1950s soda fountain treats connected to Walmart’s story.

While the museum was being renovated, the café kept running as an ice cream truck on Bentonville Square, still selling its famous 50-cent ‘cutie cups.’

They serve Yarnell’s ice cream, the first brand Sam ever sold in his 5&10, with butter pecan (Sam’s favorite) always available. You can also try ‘Spark Cream’ in Walmart’s blue and yellow colors.

The menu includes old-fashioned sundaes, malts, egg creams, and hard-to-find ice cream sodas. In a typical year, they serve over 12,000 gallons – about 529,000 scoops.

Model shows Walmart’s new headquarters

A detailed scale model lets you see Walmart’s newly developed corporate campus. This miniature shows the new Walmart Home Office that began reopening in January 2025.

Located less than a mile from the museum, the campus shows Walmart’s ongoing commitment to staying in Bentonville. The model includes tiny details of building designs, landscaping, and eco-friendly features in the new headquarters.

Interactive elements let you explore different parts of the campus and understand how the architecture reflects Walmart’s company values and culture.

Historic outside, modern inside

The museum’s exterior combines old-time accuracy with new structural improvements.

The renovation replaced the original brick front with an exact copy while adding a new third-floor meeting room and rooftop patio overlooking Bentonville Town Square.

The project stirred up debate when local historians found out the historic buildings had been completely torn down rather than preserved. Walmart officials explained that rebuilding everything was needed to meet modern safety requirements.

Despite the controversy, the finished exterior faithfully copies the original 1888 appearance down to details like decorative edges, window frames, and doorways.

Classes and researchers welcome here

The learning space on the second floor hosts workshops and educational programs. A special display shows Dolly Parton’s connection to the company next to Sam’s Presidential Medal of Freedom.

The classroom has cutting-edge technology for interactive learning about retail history and business principles. Look for the mural with hidden ‘easter eggs’ – secret historical references from Walmart’s six decades.

Researchers studying retail history can use archived resources, with digitized documents and photographs from Walmart’s corporate records available on interactive screens.

Visiting The Walmart Museum

The Walmart Museum is at 105 N. Main Street in Bentonville, Arkansas. You can visit for free.

• Monday-Thursday: 10 AM to 9 PM
• Friday-Saturday: 10 AM to 10 PM
• Sunday: 12 PM to 6 PM

After reopening in March 2025, the museum only closes on Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.