The SPAM Museum.
It almost needs no explanation. Unless of course you don’t have any idea what SPAM is….well, actually do any of us really know what SPAM is? Hmmm…moving on…
Actually, SPAM is canned meat, mainly ham. It’s been around and popular around the world for what seems like forever. It was created in 1937 and was not only shared in homes, but also shipped to troops in World War II because as you know, if you have seen it on the grocery store shelf…it doesn’t need refrigeration.
I encourage to go to Spam.com and click ABOUT. You’ll find it interesting. And if you have never had SPAM, you might want to pick up a can (or two, the varieties seem almost endless) next time you’re at the store and see what it is all about. Some people love it! Some people not as much. Whether SPAM ranks in the in top 10 of your favorite foods list or not, the SPAM Museum is a great stop for all.
The museum is in Austin, Minnesota and if you are traveling anywhere near there you must stop. You must. We had a great time and hope to go back someday. You probably will spend about 30-60 minutes there. Even if you read everything they have to read and take a picture at every opportunity, that would be enough time. There are some interactive areas that you get to dress and up “work in the SPAM factory”, so I suppose you could spend copious amounts of time doing that if you wanted.
The museum staff is super friendly and they’ll invite you to sign the guestbook. Do it of course, so you can officially say you were there and be able to prove it. The museum is filled with fun and facts galore about the history of SPAM, as well as how different countries prepare it around the world. If you are lucky, they may be passing out free samples when you are there. There is also a mini play area for kids with a slide. Of course, there is a gift shop, so you can stock up not only on actual SPAM, but every other SPAM related paraphernalia you could ever imagine.
Admission is free. It appears they may not be open in the winter months, so double check their hours prior to driving too far out of your way. Enjoy. You’ll have a great time.
