 991204 Hormel plans SPAM museum in MinnesotaDecember 1, 1999 Austin, MN - SPAM, the butt of jokes, bane of World War II soldiers and boon for Hormel Foods Corp., will be immortalized in its own museum opening next year in Austin, Minn. Hormel said it would turn a vacant Kmart store it purchased in February into a 16,550 square food SPAM and Hormel Foods Museum and Visitors' Center. Lauded as a "miracle meat" with a long shelf life and endless recipe options, SPAM gained even more fame as the target of a skit by British comedy troupe Monty Python. The canned luncheon meat has attracted a cult following and is the subject of thousands of poems, Web sites and even books. It is hoarded in survival kits by those who worry that the Year 2000 computer bug may disrupt the food supply. Museum visitors can trace the history of SPAM, beginning in 1937 when the pork product was first spiced, canned and sold under that name, through its role as a World War II ration, all the way to the present time. SPAM fans will be able to buy SPAM memorabilia ranging from hats to golf balls, and dine on SPAMburgers and other delicacies at an adjacent restaurant. The museum area will include interactive video screens and kiosks as well as a history walk with exhibits and displays which follow Hormel's progression from its founding in 1891. A state-of-the-art auditorium, accommodating 100 people, is planned for corporate video presentations to visiting tour bus groups, Hormel said. Installed near the entrance to the museum will be a bronze statue representing a country farmer delivering hogs to market. The building will also house about 140 Hormel employees. Construction is slated to begin in early 2000. The retail area of the museum is scheduled to open in conjunction with the 10th annual SPAM JAM celebration July 1. The remainder of the museum area will open later in the year, with completion of the employee offices to follow.
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