Spam Museum, Food museum in Austin, Minnesota, United States
The Spam Museum in Austin is a food museum dedicated to the history and worldwide spread of a canned meat product. Nine exhibition galleries with interactive screens, historical advertising materials, and product packaging from different countries show how this brand developed over several decades.
The original museum opened in 1991 under a different name in the Hormel Foods Corporation facilities. The institution moved in 2016 to a larger building in downtown Austin to offer more space for visitors and new exhibition pieces.
Hormel Foods Corporation began producing this canned meat product in 1937, and it quickly became part of military rations. During World War II, over 150 million pounds (68 million kilograms) reached troops overseas, helping spread this food around the world.
Admission is free, and the museum opens on weekdays from 10 AM to 5 PM and on Sundays until 4 PM. Visitors can walk through the galleries at their own pace and try the interactive stations as they wish.
The World Market section displays advertising materials and recipes from 44 countries, from Asia to Latin America. Visitors see how the same product is used in different cuisines, from Korean stews to Hawaiian rice dishes.
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