AUSTIN, Minn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–SPAM® luncheon meat: It’s an American classic, a true brand icon and a piece of Americana…and now it has its own museum. The SPAM(TM) Museum is located in Austin, Minn., home of SPAM® luncheon meat’s maker, Hormel Foods. The museum opened to the public in September 2001, but the official grand opening festivities were postponed due to the tragic events of September 11. The museum’s rescheduled celebration, now titled the “SPAM(TM) Museum Jam,” will take place on June 15-16, 2002 (Flag Day weekend).
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The museum pays homage to the 64-year history, quirky joys and unprecedented excitement SPAM® has inspired for generations of people worldwide. The weekend’s events are designed to honor not only the famed luncheon meat, but also other American classics throughout the decades – including music, celebrity TV “moms,” classic cars and a special tribute to American veterans.
“What started here in the small town of Austin, Minnesota, in 1937 has become one of America’s best-loved icons with global reach and influence,” said Julie Craven, director of public relations for Hormel Foods. “The museum celebrates the phenomenon that is SPAM® as well as the legions of SPAM(TM) fans.”
According to Craven, holding the event on Flag Day weekend 2002 is particularly meaningful. “This will be a celebration of community, of coming together and honoring our country and the people who serve and have served it so bravely. We’d planned an `American-themed’ event for September 2001; now, with all that’s happened, the theme is more poignant than ever.”
SPAM® – Part of the “Greatest Generation”
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By GlobalDataBecause of the important role SPAM® luncheon meat played in feeding the Allied Forces in World War II, Hormel Foods has created a special World War II display in the museum, which features a letter to Hormel Foods from President Eisenhower and includes a replication of SPAMVILLE, a military camp named after the wartime staple.
As a special tribute to those who served their country, NBC-TV anchor Tom Brokaw, along with Hormel Foods CEO Joel Johnson, will dedicate a memorial in honor of World War II veterans on Sunday, June 16. The memorial will hang in the museum’s World War II section. Brokaw, whose five books include The Greatest Generation and The Greatest Generation Speaks and pay tribute to the men and women who served the United States during the war, will speak at the dedication. In addition, Sunday’s events will include a fly-over by the Minnesota Wing of the Confederate Air Force and a World War II vintage vehicle display.
A weekend of fun, entertainment…and SPAM®
The weekend’s events will include music and entertainment throughout each day – from `40s swing to `70s rock. The Saturday, June 15 activities will kick off with a special appearance by celebrity TV “moms” and will be capped off with a live performance by Joe Walsh of The Eagles, followed by fireworks. Other musicians, including Beatlemania and Hormel Foods’ very own SPAMETTES(TM) singing group, will perform throughout the weekend.
The SPAM(TM) Museum is located at 1937 SPAM Blvd., in Austin. (Austin is near the Minnesota-Iowa state line, about 110 miles south of Minneapolis). The “SPAM(TM) Museum Jam” events are free and open to the public. For more information about the SPAM(TM) Museum, please visit www.spam.com.
About Hormel Foods
Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a multinational manufacturer and marketer of consumer-branded food and meat products, many of which are among the best known and trusted in the food industry. The company leverages its extensive expertise, innovation and high competencies in pork and turkey processing and marketing to bring quality, value-added brands to the global marketplace. In January 2001, Hormel Foods was named one of “The 400 Best Companies in America” by Forbes magazine.
