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Spam Museum

Coordinates: 43°40′9.5″N 92°58′28.5″W / 43.669306°N 92.974583°W / 43.669306; -92.974583
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

43°40′9.5″N 92°58′28.5″W / 43.669306°N 92.974583°W / 43.669306; -92.974583

Facade of Spam Museum

The Spam Museum is an admission-free museum in Austin, Minnesota, dedicated to Spam, a brand of canned precooked meat products made by Hormel Foods Corporation. The museum tells the history of the Hormel company, the origin of Spam, and its place in world culture.

History

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The Spam Museum originated in January 1991 as the Hormel Foods First Century Museum, when Hormel opened a small storefront company museum in celebration of the company's 100 year anniversary. Originally located in Austin's Oak Park Mall, Hormel later re-branded it as the Spam Museum.[1]

A much-larger Spam-focused museum opened in September 2001.[2] The 16,500-square foot space included a theater, historical displays, family activities and games, and a gift shop. The lobby of the museum featured a wall of Spam with more than 3,300 Spam cans and, for many years, the theatre showed a short film entitled "SPAM: A Love Story."[3][4] The Spam Museum temporarily closed in September 2014 to move to a new, more accessible downtown location. [5]

Exhibits and galleries

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Can Central Exhibit at the Spam Museum

The museum re-opened on 22 April 2016 at its new location at 101 3rd Ave NE.[6][7][8]

The location in downtown Austin is approximately 14,000 square feet in size and comprises seven main galleries. These include Can Central, "the heart of the museum";[9] the World Market, where visitors can learn about the advertising and use of Spam and Spam recipes from 44 different nations; a World War II-themed exhibit explaining the importance of Spam as a staple for American troops; "Spam Products Around the World", an interactive map;[3] the "Can Chronicles" showing the evolution of the Spam can; and Spam Brand 101, an interactive exhibit where visitors learn about 15 varieties of Spam and families are able to compete in the "assembly" of mock cans of Spam.[9] Many of the exhibits include games, interactive videos, and hands-on activities.[10]

The Spam Shop offers hundreds of Spam-branded items and gifts. Volunteer guides – known as Spambassadors – offer visitors small bits of Spam on a toothpick or pretzel stick, commonly known as Spamples.[11][12]

Pop Culture

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The Spam Museum is a featured stop in the Dan Gutman book series Genius Files.

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  • World Market exhibit at Spam Museum
    World Market exhibit at Spam Museum
  • World Market (England) at the Spam Museum
    World Market (England) at the Spam Museum
  • 1891 and Beyond exhibit at Spam Museum
    1891 and Beyond exhibit at Spam Museum
  • Canstruments at the Spam Museum
    Canstruments at the Spam Museum
  • Kids CAN Play zone at Spam Museum
    Kids CAN Play zone at Spam Museum
  • Gift Shop at the Spam Museum
    Gift Shop at the Spam Museum
  • Spam Museum in Downtown Austin (2016–present)
    Spam Museum in Downtown Austin (2016–present)
  • Former Spam Museum location (2001–2014)
    Former Spam Museum location (2001–2014)
  • The Spam Museum at dusk
    The Spam Museum at dusk

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Looker, Dan (February 3, 1991). "Hormel endures on mix of standbys, new hits". The Des Moines Register. p. 1J. Retrieved February 15, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Museum reports high traffic". Austin Daily Herald. October 22, 2002. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "SPAM Museum, Austin, Minnesota". RoadsideAmerica.com.
  4. ^ Pohlen, Jerome (2003). Oddball Minnesota: A Guide to Some Really Strange Places. ISBN 1569764700.
  5. ^ "New Spam Museum takes another step". Austin Daily Herald. November 25, 2014. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  6. ^ "Spam, the Edible Kind, Could Be a Boon for This Minnesota Town". NBC News.
  7. ^ "Spam Museum sets opening date – Austin Daily Herald". 29 March 2016.
  8. ^ "Canning its old location, Austin's new Spam Museum opens". Star Tribune.
  9. ^ a b "Up and running; New Spam Museum opens doors to public – Austin Daily Herald". 22 April 2016.
  10. ^ "New Spam Museum Opens In Austin, Minn". 25 April 2016.
  11. ^ "SPAM Museum : Explore Minnesota". www.exploreminnesota.com.
  12. ^ Garennes, Christina (2002). Great Little Museums of the Midwest. p. 74. ISBN 1931599084.
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