The Museum of Danish America, in Elk Horn, has passed the American Alliance of Museums’ Core Documents Verification, an important milestone in its ongoing efforts to demonstrate excellence and meet standards and best practices. Earning Core Documents Verification means the national professional organization for the museum industry has verified – through a thorough expert review- that the Museum of Danish America has policies in place that reflect standard practices of professional museums.

Museum of Danish America in Elk Horn, IA.

Of the nation’s roughly 35,000 museums, only about 1,100 have passed the Core Documents Verification. Museum of Danish America is one of 19 museums in Iowa to have done so. Core Documents Verification is a launching pad for accreditation, the museum field’s mark of distinction and “gold standard” of museum excellence.

Dr. John Mark Nielsen, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Museum of Danish America, said “One reason we undertook this external review was to show that the museum has in place the policies and plans that are essential to good museum management and which provide our staff and board the structure, ethical grounding, and accountability needed to make informed and consistent decisions for the good of our public and for the sustainability of our institution.”

The Museum of Danish America was founded as The Danish Immigrant Museum in 1983. It is the only national institution of its kind with a professionally-trained curatorial staff and is located in the heart of the largest rural settlement of Danes. The Museum of Danish America includes the main museum, the Jens Jensen Prairie Landscape Park, a separate Genealogy Center, a homesteader’s cabin, and Bedstemor’s House, a house museum listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

More information can be found at www.danishmuseum.org.