SPAM® Museum

Learn about Spam at this quirky museum.

The Spam Museum tells the history of the Hormel company, the origin of Spam, and its place in modern culture. This museum is free for all visitors and is inside a 14, 000 square foot building featuring nine galleries, interactive games and many photo opportunities. Ken Digneau, the brother of a Hormel executive, came up with the name Spam, short for "spiced ham." SPAM is an acronym that stands for Special Processed American Meat. This product was introduced to the food market on July 5, 1937. It gained popularity worldwide after its use during World War II. By 2003, Spam was sold in 41 countries on six continents and trademarked in over 100 countries. Spam is already cooked and can safely be eaten straight from the can, requires minimal preparation, and is very versatile. Some popular ways people use it are in sliders, sandwiches, pasta dishes, and rice.

Visitors can see how people use Spam in the Global Marketplace exhibit. This exhibit showcases Spam in various countries and their most popular Spam dishes. Some of the countries represented include England, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, China, Hawaii, and Latin America. There are also fact sheets and interactive games inside the museum, appealing to any age group. Museum hours are Monday through Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm, and Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm. Stop by the Spam museum the next time you're traveling through southern Minnesota.