Association of Children's Museums

Association of Children's Museum

Abbreviation	ACM
Formation	1962 (1962)
Type	Trade association for children's museums
Legal status	501(c)(3)
Headquarters	2550 South Clark Street, Suite 600 Arlington, Virginia 22202
Coordinates	38°51′05″N 77°03′07″W / 38.851359°N 77.051934°W / 38.851359; -77.051934
Origins	American Alliance of Museums
Membership	470 institutions
President & CEO	Arthur Affleck
Board of directors	Putter Bert, President
Publication	Hand to Hand
Revenue	$3.5 million (2025)
Award	Great Friend to Kids Award
Website	childrensmuseums.org
Formerly called	American Association of Youth Museums

The Association of Children's Museums (ACM) is a Arlington, Virginia–based organization that represents more than 400 children's museums in 23 countries throughout the world.^[1] The association began in 1962 as the American Association of Youth Museums and grew out of the desire for children's museums to meet as a separate group during the American Alliance of Museums' annual meeting. They remained an informal group, but their growth paralleled the growth of children's museums worldwide.^[2] In addition to organizing museums and administration of grants to museums,^[3] the Association partners with other organizations, including the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development on health issues related to children.^[4]

Great Friend to Kids Award

The Association of Children's Museums initiated the Great Friend to Kids Award in 1991 to honor individuals who have made outstanding contributions toward strengthening education for children. National Great Friend to Kids Award winners include Fred Rogers ("Mister Rogers") and Marian Wright Edelman (president and founder of the Children's Defense Fund).^[5]

Membership

Select Association members:

• Boonshoft Museum of Discovery
• Boston Children's Museum
• Chicago Children's Museum
• Discovery Place
• The Magic House, St. Louis
• TELUS Spark

See also

• List of children's museums in the United States (alphabetical)

References

1. "Stats and Trends". Association of Children's Museums. Archived from the original on 1 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-10.
2. "History". Association of Children's Museums. Archived from the original on 31 March 2008. Retrieved 10 April 2008.
3. Jacqueline Trescott (2002-06-29). "Asian Shows Funded at Youth Museums". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-04-10.^{[dead link]}
4. Steven Reinberg (2007-11-30). "We Can! Program Takes Aim at Childhood Obesity". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-04-10.
5. "Please Touch Museum announces winners of the 14th annual 'Great Friend to Kids Awards' " Archived 2011-04-01 at the Wayback Machine, Phillies press release, Sept. 3, 2009. MLB Advanced Media, L.P. Retrieved 2009-09-08.