Greensboro History Museum Awarded Highest National Recognition

GREENSBORO, NC (September 18, 2025) The Greensboro History Museum has achieved re-accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums, the highest national recognition afforded to the nation’s museums. Accreditation signifies excellence to the museum-going public, to governments, funders, outside agencies, and to the museum community.

The Greensboro History Museum has been accredited since 1984 and, to maintain that status, must undergo a re-accreditation review at least every 10 years. 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.

The American Alliance of Museums accreditation 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. Of the nation’s estimated 33,000 museums, roughly 1,100 are currently accredited. The Greensboro History Museum is one of only 28 museums accredited in North Carolina.

Museum Director Carol Ghiorsi Hart said “I am especially proud of the recognition for our public service role in the community. In their report, the reviewers stated ‘The Board and Staff of this museum have dedicated themselves to public service. The Board has grown and clearly reflects service to the community. In turn, the programming and exhibitions that activate the museum are equally compelling and more and more directed to the promise of inclusion, public service, access and the development of better relations between diverse people. It would be hard to find a municipal museum with more dedication to public service than the Greensboro Historical Museum.’”

Accreditation is a rigorous but 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 practices and is flexible enough to be accomplished by museums of any size.”

The Greensboro History Museum, an AAM-accredited Smithsonian Affiliate, is a division of the City of Greensboro Libraries Department and operates as a public-private partnership with the nonprofit GHM Inc. In partnership with the community, the Greensboro History Museum collects the city’s diverse history and connects people to that history and one another through engaging exhibits, educational programs and community dialogue. Located in Downtown Greensboro’s Cultural District, the museum is open Tuesdays–Saturdays 10 am to 5 pm and Sundays 2-5 pm. Admission is free.