It's quirky,free, and worth the stop: the SPAM Museum

I don’t even like SPAM. As we were traveling through Minnesota on I-90, billboards for the SPAM museum caught our attention.  A museum about SPAM?!  Really? How on earth could an entire museum be dedicated to this lowly, culinary product?

 Yet, I’m here to say that believe it or not…the SPAM Museum is an entertaining stop off the highway. Many people react with the comment: "There's a SPAM Museum, seriously?"  Yes, seriously. If you are passing through southern Minnesota, don't forget to go. Yes, and remember it’s FREE, so you won’t be out much money if you aren’t suitably impressed.

I'm kind of embarrassed to say I have been to the SPAM museum three times, with various family members so they also can enjoy this surprisingly entertaining place.

The museum started as an onsite company museum at the Hormel Corporation in Austin, MN. in 1991.  It was later moved to a more prominent downtown location in 2016. Yeah, my family has a history with SPAM: we have visited both locations! 

My sons and husband are big fans of this food with an incredibly long shelf life. Me… not so much, but the museum was very entertaining. At the museum they have a Monty Python skit on video playing continuously about SPAM of course. If you are a Monty Python fan and a SPAM fan, combining the two creates a terrific entertainment value.  Another charming musical tribute was brought to us by “The Spamettes”, a female singing group with 1950’s beehive hairdos. Just imagine the B-52’s singing all about SPAM. It was hilarious and charming in the same token.

In the museum there is a conveyer belt moving can after can above you with all the amazing varieties of SPAM.  Oh My…poetry in motion,

At the SPAM museum, it’s not just grins and giggles, it’s also eye opening to learn about the humble beginning of this versatile food.  It was initially developed in 1937 by the Hormel Company.  It really became more well known during World War II, as an important staple to feed the troops. It was also economical and a way to stretch the food budget back home.  It was very portable, versatile and had a long shelf life. Probably some of the reasons why it has maintained its popularity.  Here’s some trivia you will learn at the museum:

·        How did SPAM get its name: SPiced hAM. Nifty, huh?

·        Which state consumes the most SPAM: Hawaii

Now you will know a few key trivia questions before you even go.

In addition to “everything you wanted to know about SPAM,” they have a terrific gift shop too! (One can never have too many SPAM refrigerator magnets.) There is an abundance of merchandise: T-shirts, water bottles, coffee mugs: just about anything you can imagine with a SPAM logo.  Also, there are items you can’t imagine  putting that logo on!  My son purchased a lovely wine glass with a very classy SPAM etched in the glass. Wine and SPAM…..Hmmmm…

Another thing about this museum that makes it even more entertaining is the fact that they really don’t take themselves too seriously.  So much of it is “tongue in cheek” and that makes it even more endearing. I say this as a person who doesn’t even consume SPAM on a regular basis like the men in my family, but the museum was fun.

Some FREE museums, like the SPAM museum in Austin Minnesota, have an ulterior motive of promoting and extra marketing of their product. But so what?!....if it provides an entertaining diversion for weary highway travelers, more power to them. 

 For more details about the SPAM museum, their website is: www.spam.com/museum

Julie Etta Smith