Minnesota museums claim the month of May
In just a few weeks time thousands of museum professionals will descend on the Twin Cities for the 106th annual meeting of the American Association of Museums.
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The Walker Art Center is one of approximately 600 museums in the state of Minnesota. How many can you name?
Image courtesy Walker Art Center
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In order to impress their peers, local museums are getting organized and have declared May "Minnesota Museums Month."
The celebration involves museums of all types - historical, art, science, military, zoos, and arboretums - from all across the state.
It turns out that in the area of museums - as in theater - Minnesota is well above average.
According to the Minnesota Association of Museums, the state is home to approximately 600 museums. That's about one for every 9,000 residents, and twice the national average.
Minneapolis and St. Paul are home to 55 museums.
This year the celebration is more about welcoming the conference and recognizing just what a strong state Minnesota is for museums, but organizers say they plan to create more elaborate programming in years to come. to bring attention to some of the state's many hidden gems.
In conjunction with Minnesota Museums Month, the Metropolitan Library Service Agency will award a free membership at a selected Minnesota Museum to a member of the public, drawn at random. You will be able to enter the drawing soon here.
So which of Minnesota's 600 museums is your favorite?
Editor's Note: The audio version of this story states that this is the first time the AMA conference has been held in Minnesota. This is incorrect: it took place in the Twin Cities in 1996.