Every year, tens of thousands of people from around the world travel to southeastern Minnesota with one particular destination in mind: the SPAM® Museum. And today, on International Museum Day, the museum and its team of SPAMbassadors™ are recognizing the extent of its global appeal.
And that appeal is substantial. The museum averages more than 100,000 visitors annually, a considerable portion of whom hail from outside the United States. Last year, SPAM® fans from over 60 countries made the pilgrimage to Austin, Minn., to pay homage to the world-famous brand they love. In the last month alone, the museum welcomed visitors from Canada, Togo, the Philippines, England, Brazil, South Africa, Belgium, France, Thailand, Germany, Belize, India and Japan.
“It’s always an honor to welcome visitors from all over the world,” said Savile Lord, manager of the SPAM® Museum, Hormel Foods. “A lot of people seem go out of their way to get here. We even have people that change travel plans on the spot once they realize the SPAM® Museum is within driving distance. There’s no museum in the world quite like it.”
The SPAM® Museum has plenty to offer its international and domestic visitors alike. The Global Marketplace exhibit in particular puts forth a snapshot of what the SPAM® brand means to cultures around the world, spotlighting places like South Korea, second only to the United States in consumption of SPAM® products. Museum guests are invited to take a journey around the world to learn more about how various countries embrace the SPAM® brand within their respective cultures and cuisines.
The museum also features several fun activities for visitors, including an interactive SPAM® canning game that allows participants to compete against family and friends while learning how the product is made. There are also six touch screens prominently displayed at the center of the museum, where guests can scroll through and discover a wide variety of intriguing SPAM® recipes, which they can then email to themselves to try out in their own kitchens.
Visitors of the museum can purchase their favorite SPAM® brand souvenirs at the on-site gift shop, with options ranging from T-shirts and hats to wine tumblers and beach towels, not to mention all 11 varieties of SPAM® products.
“Bringing home SPAM® brand swag and a new recipe is the perfect way for our visitors to bring a close to their memorable experience. Plus, it gives them something to show off to their family and friends,” Lord said. “There’s something for everyone here. All are welcome.”
To explore the SPAM® Shop from afar, visit https://store.spam.com.
