GREAT MUSEUMS and the American Association of Museums (AAM)

America’s 16,000 museums keep us connected to the great history and mystery of life and civilization! GREAT MUSEUMS, the only television series devoted to America’s museums, opens the doors of museums coast to coast to millions of television viewers since 1998. AAM is the only organization representing the entire scope of museums: art, history, science, military and maritime, and youth museums, as well as aquariums, zoos, botanical gardens, arboretums, historic sites, and science and technology centers.

We have partnered to bring you a year of special television programming and community activities designed to engage millions of Americans in a celebration of our Museum World.

THE YEAR OF THE MUSEUM

2006 marks the centennial of the American Association of Museums (AAM) and is the inspiration for declaring 2006 America’s “Year of the Museum.”Dedicated to promoting excellence within the museum community for 100 years, AAM has more than 16,000 members--11,500 individual museum professionals and volunteers, 3,100 institutions, and 1,700 corporate members.

The mission of America’s 2006 Year of the Museums is to

• Increase government and public understanding on local, state, regional and national levels of the unique value of museums in American life.
• 
  Encourage individuals and groups throughout the country to celebrate the Year of the Museum in any and all appropriate ways.

For more information on how you and your local museum can participate in the national YEAR OF THE MUSEUM celebration, visit www.aam-us.org.

FIND THE MUSEUMS IN YOUR BACKYARD NOW at www.GreatMuseums.org’s “Museum World” (click here)

To Preview Great Museums QuickTime Previews, click here.

Educators, visit www.GreatMuseums.org “For Teachers” now. (click here)