Fun Museum for Kids and Musicians

It seems fitting for one of the world's largest accordion museums to be located in a state with a love for polka music. Located in Superior, Wisconsin, A World of Accordions features a variety of displays, artifacts, and literature for the accordion lover. The main display is called The Magnificent 1000 Accordions.'' There is also a Charles Magnante Collection, a Hugo Herrmann Collection, and throughout the year the museum features various traveling displays and exhibits. Artifacts on hand include artwork and figurines, music, and some cultural connectors to the world of music.

The library at the accordion museum is their pride and joy. It features hundreds of thousands of pieces that are organized by composer, category, ethnicity, and solo-orchestral categories. This makes it easier for those looking for musical pieces to find them, no matter how they are searching. There are also a variety of books from which to choose including theory and philosophy, acoustics, aesthetics and perception, advertisements, and accordion history. Anyone needing to conduct research concerning accordion manufacture or accordion music should head to the museum for a wide variety of materials. In addition to books and musical pieces, they house periodicals, newsletters, videos, and a variety of previously conducted research.

Museum memberships are available. Those who are interested can write to the curator for details. They will receive a newsletter delivered to them four times a year, and their membership will help the museum's bid to become a nationally recognized institution. Another popular feature of the museum is the gift shop. It features items that will delight both music lovers and those with a natural curiosity for history. There are accordion related items, general musical gifts, antiques, and special promotional items. Musicians can also purchase various music and accessories. Also featured are CDs and tapes, figurines, and t-shirts.

The museum prides itself on the role it plays in the community. They offer a variety of performances and lectures, and will travel to your event should you have a desire to schedule their services. The museum runs an accordion repair program that is the only program in the United States that leads to certification in the field of accordion repair. There are apprentice programs available, so if accordion repair is something you are considering learning, this is the location you should contact. The courses are college level, and student handbooks are available by contacting the museum. Class and seminar schedules are available on the museum's website, as well as a variety of other information concerning the scholastic training program. Accordions can also be repairs onsite at the museum. Students in the program work with real customers during their training, and deliver services such as regular maintenance, professional, and museum quality repair. The courses teach a variety of skills that will prepare students to open their own accordion repair shops including self-employment skills, accounting skills, customer relations, and all of the quality of instrument standards enabling students to repair a variety of accordions.

The museum welcomes donations from anyone who would like to contribute. If you are traveling a long distance, it is advised that you call ahead to ensure the museum is open and prepared to share their collection upon your arrival. A World of Accordions Museum is a unique destination in Wisconsin.