WASHINGTON, D.C.—The American Alliance of Museums has announced that three museums were newly accredited and seven museums earned re-accreditation at the June 16–17 2014 meeting of the Accreditation Commission. Accredited status from the Alliance is the highest national recognition achievable by an American museum.

Accreditation recognizes high standards in individual museums and ensures that museums continue to uphold their public trust, educational and collections stewardship responsibilities. Developed and sustained by museum professionals for over 40 years, the museum accreditation program is the field’s primary vehicle for quality assurance, self-regulation and public accountability.  Alliance accreditation signifies excellence and credibility to the entire museum community, to governments and outside agencies and to the museum-going public.

This group of accredited museums is representative of the breadth and scope of America’s museums, encompassing all types and sizes of institutions and every region of the country. It includes such diverse institutions as the George Eastman House and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, as well as those focused on modern art and the Gilded Age. There are also museums which tell the stories and preserve the legacies of history on the state, local and national level.

“Accredited museums have met and often exceeded the highest standards of the museum field, in everything they do,” said Ford W. Bell, Alliance president. “Accreditation is clearly a significant achievement, of which both the institutions and the communities they serve can be extremely proud.”

The following museums were awarded accreditation. First-time accredits are indicated with an asterisk:

• Bechtler Museum of Modern Art*, Charlotte, North Carolina
• George Eastman House, Rochester, New York
• Grand Rapids Art Museum, Michigan
• Henry Morrison Flagler Museum, Palm Beach, Florida
• History Colorado, Denver
• Holland Historical Trust, Holland, Michigan
• National Underground Railroad Freedom Center*, Cincinnati
• Oklahoma History Center*, Oklahoma City
• Old State House Museum, Little Rock, Arkansas
• Sixth Floor Museum, Dallas

The Institute of Museum and Library Services estimates there are about 35,000 museums in the U.S., of which 1,033 are accredited. To earn accreditation a museum first must complete a Self-Study then undergo a site visit by a two-person team of peers. The Accreditation Commission—the Board-appointed body responsible for making independent decisions regarding accredited status—considers the results of both steps and applies its collective experience to the Characteristics of Excellence to determine whether a museum should receive accreditation.

For more information about the Alliance and the Accreditation Program, including a list of accredited museums and accreditation statistics, please visit www.aam-us.org.

Media Contact

Dewey Blanton
Alliance Communications
202-218-7704