South Carolina State Museum. Columbia, South Carolina, Museum, Attraction, Planetarium, Observatory, 4D Theater, Exhibitions
Museum News

South Carolina State Museum Receives National Recognition


South Carolina State Museum. Columbia, South Carolina, Museum, Attraction, Planetarium, Observatory, 4D Theater, Exhibitions

South Carolina State Museum building looking west.


The South Carolina State Museum has again achieved accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM). Founded in 1906 the Alliance is a network of museums designed to develop best practices and advocacy for museums nationwide. AAM Accreditation signifies excellence to the museum community, governments, funders, outside agencies and to the museum-going public. The State Museum has been accredited since 1993. Museums undergo an extensive review for re-accreditation every 10 years.

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 45 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 in order to provide the best possible service to the public.

“We are extremely proud to once again receive this recognition,” said Willie Calloway, executive director of the State Museum. “The museum commission, foundation board, staff and volunteers have and will always remain focused and committed to excellence, as we serve as the primary storyteller of South Carolina.”

Of the nation’s estimated 33,000 museums, over 1070 are currently accredited. Only 10% of the nation’s multidisciplinary museums are accredited and only 7% of state governed museums.

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.

“Accredited museums are a community of institutions that have chosen to hold themselves publicly accountable to excellence,” said Laura L. Lott, Alliance president and CEO. “Accreditation is clearly a significant achievement, of which both the institutions and the communities they serve can be extremely proud.”

Founded in 1988, the State Museum is celebrating 30 years as the state’s largest and most comprehensive museum. As the storyteller of South Carolina’s history, the State Museum strives to honor the groundbreaking nature of its setting, providing both residents and visitors an in-depth picture of the state’s past, present and future.

About the American Alliance of Museums: The American Alliance of Museums has been bringing museums together since 1906, helping to develop standards and best practices, gathering and sharing knowledge, and providing advocacy on issues of concern to the entire museum community. Representing more than 35,000 individual museum professionals and volunteers, institutions, and corporate partners serving the museum field, the Alliance stands for the broad scope of the museum community. For more information, visit www.aam-us.org.