Grout Museum District Receives Highest National Recognition

Posted on Thursday, November 21, 2024

The Grout Museum District has again achieved accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums, the highest national recognition afforded to the nation’s museums. Accreditation signifies excellence to the museum community, to governments, funders, outside agencies, and to the museum-going public. The Grout Museum District has been accredited since 1984. All museums must undergo a reaccreditation review at least every 10 years to maintain accredited status.  

Alliance Accreditation brings national recognition to a museum for its commitment to excellence, accountability, high professional standards and continued institutional improvement. Developed and sustained by museum professionals for over fifty years, the Alliance’s museum accreditation program is the field’s primary vehicle for quality assurance, self-regulation, and public accountability. It strengthens the museum profession by promoting practices that enable leaders to make informed decisions, allocate resources wisely, and remain financially and ethically accountable to provide the best possible service to the public. 

Grout Museum District Board President, EJ Gallagher says “our board and trustees are very happy about the District’s reaccreditation. It shows that we have a quality institution that meets national standards. This reaccreditation is a great incentive to make sure that we continue to be the best resource that we can be for our community and state. It was a long process and many on our staff and board contributed to this effort.”

Of the nation’s estimated 33,000 museums, roughly 1,100 are currently accredited. The Grout Museum District is one of over 30 museums accredited in Iowa.  

Accreditation is a very rigorous but highly rewarding process that examines all aspects of a museum’s operations. To earn accreditation, a museum first must conduct a year of self-study, and then undergo a site visit by a team of peer reviewers. AAM’s Accreditation Commission, an independent and autonomous body of museum professionals, considers the self-study and visiting committee report to determine whether a museum should receive accreditation. 

“Accreditation is a monumental achievement,” said Marilyn Jackson, AAM President & CEO. “The process demonstrates an institution’s commitment to best practice and is flexible enough to be accomplished by museums of any size.”

Established in 1932, the Grout Museum District is widely acknowledged as one of the cornerstones of culture in Northeast Iowa and includes 5 distinct properties: the Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum, Grout Museum of History & Science, Bluedorn Science Imaginarium, Rensselaer Russell House Museum and Snowden House. For current information on museum programming, exhibits, hours and rates visit www.gmdistrict.org or call 319.234.6357.

About the American Alliance of Museums

The American Alliance of Museums (AAM) is the only organization representing the entire museum field, from art and history museums to science centers and zoos. Since 1906, we have been championing museums through advocacy and providing museum professionals with the resources, knowledge, inspiration, and connections they need to move the field forward. For more information, visit aam-us.org.