New exhibit ‘Museum of Failure’ to debut at Mall of America

A new exhibit called the "Museum of Failure" is set to debut at the Mall of America next month.

The museum will open on Nov. 5, and Bloomington is the first of its six-city tour across the United States. Other stops include Chicago, Atlanta, West Palm Beach, San Antonio and Seattle.

According to a news release, the Museum of Failure shines a light on some of history’s epic fails by some of the world’s best-known companies. An example is Colgate’s frozen beef lasagna TV dinner. First displayed in Sweden, the collection of more than 100 failures was originally conceived by psychologist and innovation researcher Dr. Samuel West. He said he believes seeing these larger-than-life corporate imperfections will inspire visitors to innovate and not be afraid to fail.

"I’m excited to bring this spectacular exhibit around North America," West said. "We need to be better at learning from failure. I want visitors to recognize that failure is an essential aspect of progress and innovation."

Organizers say the experience is for visitors of all ages.

"We love being able to bring in rotating exhibits for our guests, so there is always something new to experience at Mall of America," said Jill Renslow, EVP of Business Development at Mall of America. "The Museum of Failure exhibit is sure to be a one-of-a-kind offering for those visiting Mall of America – especially as we enter into the holiday season."

The exhibit will take place from Nov. 5 through Jan. 19, 2022, on level two of the North Atrium. Tickets start at $18 and are on sale now online. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the door. A smartphone audio guide is included in the ticket price and features interactive virtual tour elements, including video trivia and unlockable content.