WEST POINT, N.Y. (Sept. 1, 2010) -- The West Point Museum has achieved accreditation from the American Association of Museums, the highest national recognition for a museum.
Accreditation signifies excellence to the museum community, to governments, funders, outside agencies and to the museum-going public.
Of the nation's estimated 17,500 museums, 775 are currently accredited. The West Point Museum is one of only 62 museums accredited in New York State and one of only three U.S. Army museums that have obtained this highest honor.
AAM accreditation is the field's primary vehicle for quality assurance, self-regulation and public accountability, and earns national recognition for a museum for its commitment to excellence in all that it does: governance, collections stewardship, public programs, financial stability, high professional standards and continued institutional improvement.
"As a result of the museum's accreditation, the West Point community and garrison can take considerable pride in their homegrown institution, for its commitment to excellence and for the value it brings to America," Ford W. Bell, AAM president, said.
Developed and sustained by museum professionals for 35 years, AAM's Museum Accreditation program strengthens the profession by promoting practices that enable leaders to make informed decisions, allocate resources wisely and to provide the best possible service to the public.
"Accreditation assures the officers and cadets at the United States Military Academy that their museum is among the finest in the nation," David Reel,West Point Museum director, said.
Accreditation is a rigorous process that examines all aspects of a museum's operations. To earn accreditation, a museum first must conduct two years of self-study and then undergo a site visit by a team of peer reviewers. The West Point Museum was reviewed by the Director of the National Marine Corps Museum and the Museum Director from the Virginia Military Institute.
The West Point Museum is open at no charge to the public, seven days a week, from 10:30 a.m.-4:15 p.m.; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
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