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Mission Statement

The Missouri History Museum seeks to deepen the understanding of past choices, present circumstances, and future possibilities; strengthen the bonds of the community; and facilitate solutions to common problems.

In 2001, the Missouri History Museum adopted six core values. The core values are as follows:

Civil Society: The Missouri History Museum is committed to fostering a strong and healthy community.

Empathy: The Missouri History Museum will facilitate experiences that encourage people to consider the perspective of others

Inspiration: The Missouri History Museum is committed to using its assets to foster an environment that nurtures spirituality as a crucial component of a strong community.

Integrity: The Missouri History Museum will earn the public's trust by demonstrating integrity in all we do.

Remembrance: The Missouri History Museum will facilitate public examination of the past to engender mutual appreciation of differing points of view, discovery of shared meaning and expansion of the common ground and shared future that bind us.

Stewardship: The Missouri History Museum will reflect the fundamental obligation of every generation to leave this community, region and world in better condition for those who will next inherit them.

American Alliance of Museums Accreditation

Since 1993, the Missouri History Museum has been accredited by the American Association of Museums (now known as the American Alliance of Museums).

Within the museum field, AAM accreditation is the primary vehicle for quality assurance; self-regulation; and public accountability. It is national recognition of a museum’s commitment to excellence in governance, collections stewardship, public programs, financial stability, high professional standards, and continued institutional improvement.

According to the AAM: “As the museum’s field’s mark of distinction, accreditation offers high profile, peer-based validation of a museum’s operations and impact. Accreditation increases a museum’s credibility and value to funders, policy makers, community, and peers. Accreditation is a powerful tool to leverage change and helps facilitate loans between museums.”

To be accredited by AAM, the Missouri History Museum met the Characteristics of Excellence for U.S. Museums, including education and interpretation, leadership, fiscal responsibility, and transparency.

National Award for Museum Services

The Missouri History Museum was the first recipient of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) National Award for Museum Services in 1994. Recipients of the award are chosen for their innovative approaches to public service, and for their success in improving communities and making a difference in people’s lives. The award is the nation’s highest honor for museums and libraries for extraordinary civic, educational, economic, environmental, and social contributions.

IMLS is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 17,500 museums. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development.