American Alliance of Museums facts for kids

The first headquarters for the AAM was in Washington, D.C.. Today, the main office is in Arlington County, Virginia.

The American Alliance of Museums (AAM) is a group that supports and connects museums all across the United States. You can think of it as a giant club for museums. It was started way back in 1906 to help museums work together and share ideas.

The AAM helps museum workers by giving them resources, knowledge, and inspiration. This helps them make their museums even better for visitors like you. The organization was once called the American Association of Museums, but it changed its name in 2012.

Who is in the Alliance?

The AAM is a huge community. It includes over 4,000 museums and more than 25,000 people who work or volunteer in them.

Types of Museums

When you think of a museum, you might picture an art gallery or a history museum. The AAM represents those, but also many other kinds of cool places, such as:

• Science museums and technology centers
• Children's museums designed for kids
• Zoos and public aquariums
• Botanical gardens and arboretums (places with trees and plants)
• Historic sites and houses
• Military and maritime (sea-related) museums

In 2014, a government group announced that there are at least 35,000 museums in the United States. The AAM helps many of them!

Museum Professionals

Many different jobs are needed to run a museum. The AAM supports all of these people, including:

• Directors: The leaders who manage the entire museum.
• Curators: Experts who choose, care for, and explain the objects in the museum's collection.
• Educators: People who create fun learning activities and tours for visitors.
• Exhibit Designers: The creative minds who design the look and feel of the museum's displays.
• Volunteers: People who donate their time to help the museum in many different ways.

History of the AAM

The idea for the AAM started at a meeting in Washington, D.C., on December 21, 1905. A group of people wanted to create an association for American museums. The organization was officially founded the next year.

Here are some of the AAM's biggest moments:

• 1906: The American Association of Museums is officially created.
• 1923: The AAM sets up its first main office in the famous Smithsonian Castle in Washington, D.C.
• 1969: The AAM creates an accreditation program. Accreditation is like a "seal of approval" that shows a museum meets high standards in how it operates.
• 1971: The first 16 museums, including the Grand Rapids Public Museum, earn their accreditation.
• 1980: A program called the Museum Assessment Program (MAP) is started. It helps museums review their strengths and find areas to improve.
• 2006: The AAM celebrates its 100th birthday.
• 2012: The organization changes its name to the American Alliance of Museums to better show how it brings everyone in the museum world together.

See also

In Spanish: Alianza americana de museos para niños

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