AAM represents more than 25,000 individual museum professionals and volunteers, 4,000 institutions, and 150 corporate members.

Individual members include directors, curators, registrars, educators, exhibit designers, public relations officers, development officers, security managers, trustees, and volunteers.

Museums represented by the members include art, history, science, military, maritime, and youth museums, as well as public aquariums, zoos, botanical gardens, arboretums, historic sites, and science and technology centers.

[4] An informal meeting was held at the National Museum in Washington, D.C., on December 21, 1905, for the "purpose of discussing the advisability of endeavoring to establish an association of the museums of America.

It identifies, examines, and advocates appropriate uses of media technologies in helping museums meet the needs of their public.