American Alliance of Museums facts for kids

The first AAM office in Washington, D.C.. Today, their main office is in Arlington County, Virginia.

The American Alliance of Museums (AAM) is a group that helps bring museums together. It used to be called the American Association of Museums. This group is a non-profit association, which means it doesn't aim to make money. Instead, it works to support museums and the people who work in them.

AAM was started in 1906. Its main goal is to give museum workers the tools, knowledge, and ideas they need. This helps museums grow and improve.

The AAM represents many different types of museums and museum workers. This includes over 25,000 people who work or volunteer at museums. It also includes 4,000 museum buildings and 150 companies that work with museums. People who are members include museum directors, curators (who manage collections), educators, and volunteers.

The museums that are part of AAM include many kinds of places. There are art, history, and science museums. You can also find military, maritime, and youth museums. Even public aquariums, zoos, botanical gardens, and historic sites are part of this group.

In 2014, a study showed there are at least 35,000 museums in the United States!

History of the American Alliance of Museums

The idea for AAM started with a meeting in Washington, D.C., in 1905. People met to talk about starting a group for museums in America. Here are some important moments in the AAM's history:

• 1906: The group was officially founded.
• 1911: A list of museums in North and South America was published.
• 1923: The main office moved to the Smithsonian Castle in Washington, D.C.
• 1925: A set of rules for how museum workers should act was created. This is called the Code of Ethics.
• 1969: A program was started to "accredit" museums. This means checking if museums meet high standards.
• 1971: The Grand Rapids Public Museum and 15 other museums were the first to be accredited.
• 1980: The Museum Assessment Program (MAP) was created. This program helps museums figure out how they can improve.
• 2003: A new website was launched to help find art stolen during the Nazi era. It's called the Nazi-Era Provenance Internet Portal.
• 2006: AAM celebrated its 100th birthday! It was called the "Year of the Museum."
• 2012: The group changed its name to the "American Alliance of Museums."

Media and Technology for Museums

The Media and Technology (M&T) group is a special part of the AAM. This group connects museums with new media and technology. They look at how technology can help museums serve their visitors better. Only AAM members can join this network.

See also

In Spanish: Alianza americana de museos para niños

• Art Museum Partnership
• Association of Art Museum Directors
• National Education Association