2 Museums Memphis could learn from

They're both fascinating in their own right - 1 is old with an outstanding addition and 1 is relatively new. They're both the product of women and both popular. And they're both in beautiful settings ....The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston and Crystal Bridges in Bentonville, AR.

Credit: Boston Globe via Getty Images

Outstanding, intimate, set next to a park, founded by a woman, who donated it to the public "forever" - the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston.

A lot like the current Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, which was built by Bessie Brooks and donated to the Memphis Park Commission along with her art collection.

Unlike in Memphis, when the Isabella Stewart Gardiner needed more space, the museum remained in its original building on Olmstead's famous Emerald Necklace park system, and added a sensitive new addition by Rienzo Piano.

Designed by Moshe Safde; on 120-acres of land donated by the Walton family with 5-miles of walking and biking trails, sculpture, art, and architecture exhibits; one of best collections of American art in the world; free admission; founded by Alice Walton with an endowment of $800M ($350M for operating expenses, $325M for acquisitions, $125M for future maintenance and improvements) - Crystal Bridges in Bentonville, AR.