The Adler Planetarium Receives Reaccreditation from American Alliance of Museums 

Header Image: Adler Planetarium at sunset

Chicago’s Adler Planetarium has again achieved accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the highest recognition afforded to the nation’s museums. Accreditation signifies excellence to the museum community, to governments, funders, outside agencies, and to the museum-going public. The Adler has been accredited since 1971. All museums must undergo a reaccreditation review at least every 10 years to maintain accredited status. 

Alliance 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 Alliance’s 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.

“Continuing to be recognized as a top performing museum in the country through the AAM accreditation process is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our staff, volunteers, and board who guide our work to connect people to the universe and each other under the sky we all share,” said Dr. Michelle B. Larson, the Adler’s President and CEO. “We are  proud of this achievement and the AAM’s recognition of our commitment to excellence.”

Of the nation’s estimated 33,000 museums, roughly 1,100 are currently accredited. The Adler Planetarium is one of only 32 museums accredited in Illinois. Accreditation is a very rigorous and 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 and CEO. “The process demonstrates an institution’s commitment to best practice and is flexible enough to be accomplished by museums of any size.”

The AAM is the only organization representing the entire museum field, from art and history museums to science centers and zoos. Since 1906, the AAM has been championing museums through advocacy and providing museum professionals with the resources, knowledge, inspiration, and connections they need to move the field forward. Click here to learn more about the American Alliance of Museums.

Follow Your Favorite Planetarium On Social Media

On a cosmic scale, there’s practically no distance between us. We’re all flying through space on the same little blue planet, and we’re all looking up at the same sky.

The Adler Planetarium is not only a building—it is anywhere people gather to spot a constellation, see themselves in the life story of a scientist, or sing a song about black holes. In classrooms and living rooms all over the world, we remind people that they are not so far away from us, from each other, or from the stars.

Connect with us, with science and astronomy, with our universe—and with other people—exactly where you are! You can follow the Adler Planetarium on Instagram, TikTok or YouTube!