At the SPAM Museum in Austin Minnesota
by Linda (minnemom of Travels with Children)
SPAM®. The food, that is. You may love it or hate it, but did you know there’s a museum dedicated to it? It’s a great place for a family outing, and best of all, it’s free.
To tell you the truth, I had never even tasted SPAM before we stepped foot in the SPAM Museum in Austin, Minnesota. After watching the movie about the history of SPAM, and learning about SPAM fans and SPAM conventions, and finally stepping out into the museum’s exhibit area, I was brave when the SPAM samples came out and had my first taste of SPAM.
Before I went to the museum, I didn’t know how many kinds of SPAM there were, or how many countries it was sold in, or how many cans of SPAM are sold each year. Nor did I really care. But the SPAM museum is just fun and interesting and interactive enough that all of the SPAM facts seem important.
SPAM Museum, Austin, MN
Our kids loved putting on their lab coats and pretending to make some SPAM in the Hands-On SPAM area. They loved watching the cans of SPAM on the overhead track, moving along like a train. They especially liked that I bought them each a SPAM-mobile in the gift shop. Really, how many kids have a SPAM-mobile in their Matchbox car collection?
Hands-On SPAM
If you’re driving along I-90 in Southern Minnesota, be sure to stop in at the SPAM Museum. You can get your own SPAM-mobile, learn a little about SPAM, and have some fun as well.
Have you ever been to the SPAM Museum? What did you think? Have you been to other museums created around particular products?
Read about more fun things to do in Minnesota and beyond at Travels with Children.
Photo credits: SPAM Museum by minnemom; Hands-On SPAM by minnemom
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10 Responses
I had no idea there was a Spam Museum! What a fun place to visit! Definitely unique.
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I never even knew the Spam museum existed. Next time I travel to Minnesota, I will have to put it on the itinerary.
That is too funny! I also had no idea there was a Spam museum.
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That looks like an interesting way to spend a day. I didn’t even know there was a Spam museum! Or that there are different kinds of Spam. What are they?
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Ah, Spam! So many memories. Spam was always the perfect can to give away at food drives. Somehow, we always had some in our home, even though no one wanted to eat any. However, I hear it is a very popular food item in Hawaii. I’m surprised to discover that it has such a place of honor in Minnesota. I’d love to hear the story behind this museum.
Museum of Spam…LOL…too funny. I’m sure Google has one too.
The Spam museum is in Minnesota because that’s where the company started; its headquarters are still in Austin and the plant there makes a good part of the world’s Spam production.
Some of the flavors are “spiced,” “reduced sodium,” and there were quite a few others that I can’t remember.
The entire museum is neat and clean and cleverly done and is worth a stop if you’re in the area. I’m still not a fan of eating Spam, but I really enjoy the museum!
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OK, the Spam museum may be good for a laugh or a matchbox car, but once you read the ingredient list I hope you agree it is not a food you should actually eat!! Gross!
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Okay… what’s it taste like?
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