Wander Minnesota: The New and Improved SPAM Museum
It's back, it's bigger and better than ever and it's right downtown Austin: Hormel's SPAM Museum. The museum recently reopened in Austin after an extensive renovation and expansion.
It's now a 14,000-square-foot space dedicated to the 79-year history of the iconic food product. Yes, it's still going strong, even after having its name co-opted to describe unwanted email.
Currently, there are 15 SPAM varieties sold in 44 countries around the world.
Hormel estimates that there are 12.8 cans of SPAM eaten every second.
In spite of its success, one thing SPAM has never done is take itself too seriously. Let us not forget that instead of suing Monty Python for trademark infringement, SPAM embraced the concept of a musical called "Spamalot."
It keeps a roster of fun facts on its website, including the fact that SPAM JAM is Hawaii's biggest annual festival and London's Big Ben is 1,163 SPAM cans tall. The Museum gives visitors a chance to see how many SPAM cans tall they themselves are.
At the museum you can learn what's in SPAM, which is only six ingredients, and how you could make it yourself.
Interactive exhibits will spotlight SPAM's history, including its role in WWII.
The museum is open seven days a week. So, what are you waiting for?
What else is happening in our state? Be sure to check out the 10 p.m. Sunday night WCCO newscasts, where you can learn more in the weekly segment, Finding Minnesota.