It looks like A South Dakota museum devoted to the political career of far-left Democrat George McGovern registered 5,000 fewer visitors last year than a Wisconsin museum devoted to mustard. So why all the hype from the Associated Press about how a "Museum about McGovern draws many visitors"? Oh, the AP did their best to make it seem like the George McGovern Legacy Museum is a "surprising" run away success in the world of museums. They go on and on about how there are a "lot of friends" of McGovern around the world and his museum is "interesting" and a "lesson" for our times. But, then they make the mistake of saying how many visitors have come to this thing and it reveals a paltry attendance. So, far from a great success, this so-called museum is not as successful as AP tries to make it seem. So, why is the AP pushing this thing? Could it be because of their affinity for McGovern's extreme left views? Do they want to urge people to attend to be exposed to McGovern's failed ideas of the past? This story certainly isn't about a museum success story, whatever the case may be. The report is quite short, but revelatory.
The McGovern Legacy Museum at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell drew an estimated 25,000 visitors in its first year. The museum is part of the George and Eleanor McGovern Library and Center for Leadership and Public Service. ''I knew that Sen. McGovern had a lot of friends around the country and world, but I was a little surprised,'' museum director Donald Simmons was quoted as saying in The Daily Republic newspaper. ''One thing about the McGovern Legacy Museum that is interesting is that you don't have to be a Democrat and you don't have to like George McGovern's policies at all,'' said Pam Engelland, director of the Corn Palace Convention and Visitors Bureau. ''It's just a lesson about that time in our history.''
Like Mr. Simmons, I was a "little surprised," too. After all, what was the attendance that the AP thought was so wonderful? 25,000? For the whole year? Sorry, AP, but that just isn't very much. I worked at a museum in my youth and 25,000 would have had us in tears. So, here is a little perspective about the Mustard Museum I mentioned. The Mt. Horeb Mustard Museum in Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin says that they welcomed 30,000 visitors last year. Yes, you read that correctly. A museum that showcases thousands of brands of mustard drew more people than the McGovern Museum. A condiment is more popular than George McGovern. Now, can we say that mustard has "a lot of friends around the country and world"? So, AP, I have to say, don't bother me with the loser from 1972. But, please pass the mustard.
