Accreditation puts EAA facility among exclusive 3 percent of museums nationwide
EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — (March 25, 2025) — The American Alliance of Museums (AAM) has formally granted re-accreditation to the EAA Aviation Museum, recognizing the museum’s dedication to high standards and excellence within the museum community. All museums must undergo a reaccreditation review at least every 10 years to maintain accredited status.
AAM accreditation brings national recognition to a museum for its commitment to excellence, accountability, high professional standards and continued institutional improvement. Developed and sustained by museum professionals for over fifty years, the AAM museum accreditation program is the field’s primary vehicle for quality assurance, self-regulation, and public accountability. It strengthens the museum profession by promoting practices that enable leaders to make informed decisions, allocate resources wisely, and remain financially and ethically accountable to provide the best possible service to the public.
“Ever since EAA opened our museum in Oshkosh four decades ago, we have been focused on maintaining the highest standards for our collection and exhibits,” said Jack J. Pelton, the Experimental Aircraft Association’s CEO and Chairman of the Board. “This re-accreditation reflects that continuing hard work from our team to bring the story of personal flight to our EAA members and museum visitors throughout the year.”
The EAA Aviation Museum has been acclaimed as one of the world’s top aviation museums, including by CNN and publications such as Travel + Leisure and Group Travel Leader.
Of the nation’s estimated 33,000 museums, only about 1,100 are currently accredited. Accreditation is a very rigorous but highly rewarding process that examines all aspects of a museum’s operations. To earn accreditation, a museum first must conduct a year of self-study, and then undergo a site visit by a team of peer reviewers. AAM’s Accreditation Commission, an independent and autonomous body of museum professionals, considers the self-study and visiting committee report to determine whether a museum should receive accreditation.
“Accreditation is a monumental achievement,” said Marilyn Jackson, AAM President & CEO. “The process demonstrates an institution’s commitment to best practice and is flexible enough to be accomplished by museums of any size.”
EAA Aviation Museum curator Amelia Anderson led the accreditation process, which also incorporated numerous departments throughout EAA over the past year.
