Reaccreditation by the American Association of Museums

Clara Barton National Historic Site, a unit of the George Washington Memorial Parkway, is pleased to announce its recent reaccreditation by the American Association of Museums (AAM). In recognizing this honor the AAM citation states: ?Accreditation is national recognition of a museum?s commitment to accountability and public service, its high professional museum standards and its excellence in education and stewardship.? According to the AAM, out of the nearly 16,000 museums in the United States, only about 750, or 5 percent are accredited. Clara Barton NHS was first awarded this distinction in 1995.

AAM accreditation ensures that Clara Barton National Historic Site, as a steward of public and private resources, is fulfilling its public trust responsibilities. Clara Barton National Historic Site plays a critical role as a center of learning and serves as an educational resource for school children, teachers and individuals of all ages.

The American Association of Museums has represented the museum community since 1906. Its accreditation process is rigorous, examining all aspects of museum operation. The museum must first perform a year of self-study. The museum then undergoes a site visit by a team of peer reviewers. Following that visit there is an evaluation of the self-study report and the site visit report in which the AAM Accreditation Committee determines whether the museum meets the high standards required for accreditation. It generally takes up to three years to complete the review process.

Clara Barton National Historic Site is located in Glen Echo, Maryland adjacent to Glen Echo Park. It commemorates Clara Barton?s lifetime of achievement with special emphasis on her founding of the American Red Cross and her Red Cross operations. Clara Barton National Historic Site was authorized as a National Historic Site by Congress in 1974. The National Park Service began operation of the site in 1975.

The structure was built in 1891 and served as Miss Barton?s American Red Cross warehouse for six years. In 1897 she modified the building and turned it into her home and the first official American Red Cross headquarters. She installed plumbing for a kitchen and bathroom and expanded upstairs storage space for additional supplies.

Tours of the historic home are offered daily by National Park Service rangers who interpret Miss Barton?s life and times. Tours begin on the hour between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm. The National Park Service also offers occasional evening lamplight tours, Parks as Classroom Programs for school groups and special programs highlighting Miss Barton?s lifetime of service. The National Park Service also partners with Glen Echo Park?s Adventure Theatre to offer a unique play and home-tour field trip opportunity for elementary school students. Please view our Special Events link for further information.

Clara Barton National Historic Site joins several museums in receiving its current reaccreditation including: Canton Museum of Art (Ohio), Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art (Utah), Rye Historical Society Museum, (New York), University of Arizona Museum of Art, Higgins-Armory Museum (Mass.), National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution (Wash. D.C.), Sterling & Francis Clark Art Institute, (Mass.), Toledo Museum of Art (Ohio), U.S.S. Constitution Museum, (Mass.), Weatherspoon Art Museum, (S.C.), and Bucks County Historical Society: Mercer Museum & Fonthill, (PA ).