Welcome to the official site of the Advertising Icon Museum, the soon-to-be, brand new home of a whole host of familiar and not-so-familiar characters who were created just for the purpose of advertising — many of whom have taken on a beloved, pop cultural status far beyond their illustrious business careers. more
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On this site you can visit many of the colorful residents who will populate the museum when it opens in 2008. Take a trip down memory lane as you learn interesting facts about the characters you grew up with. For example, did you know that macho party dog Spuds MacKenzie was really a female? Or that one of the first cartoon ad characters was designed by none other than Walt Disney?
The Advertising Icon Museum, founded by Robert Bernstein, is now under construction as part of the West Edge development on the west side of the fashionable Country Club Plaza district in Kansas City, Missouri. Designed by world renowned architect Moshe Safdie to recall a European hillside village, the multi-use project will feature our two-level, 12,000 sq. ft. museum in conjunction with terraced offices, unique shops, rooftop landscaping, glass enclosed atrium, auditorium, boutique hotel, signature restaurant, health spa, rooftop entertainment and pool built over parking for 950 cars.
Upon entering the space, visitors will encounter a spectacular, revolving, helix structure cutting through the floor to both levels of the museum and populated with icons of all sizes, shapes and colors interspersed with audio-video elements that will put the characters in their context. Surrounding the open circular stairwell will be the permanent home of Advertising Week's Madison Avenue Walk of Fame, with plaques added for new honorees voted in by the public each year and honored with a parade in the fall in New York City.
The museum interior is by Abbott Miller of Pentagram, a famed, international design consortium. Check this site for progress as details of the plan become available for posting. Thousands of pieces will remain on permanent display in a unique environment created to delight as well as educate. And various temporary exhibits will be offered throughout the year as well as a complete range of educational programs, conferences and events.
Museum Executive Director Howard Boasberg Jr. will open the doors to this happening home of pop cultural advertising past and present in Spring 2008. Come back to this site often for updates and news as the exciting opening draws near.
