There are some things you know a lot about, and a lot of things that you know something about. Visiting a Hall of Fame can be a great experience whether you know a little or a lot about the subject. If you’re a baseball fan, the pilgrimage to Cooperstown NY is a no brainer. But even most casual baseball fans have heard of Babe Ruth and Willie Mays and can appreciate their accomplishments.
So whether you live and breathe the subject, or are looking for an interesting diversion, here are 5 picks for spending a day marveling at the achievements of the best of the best.
NASCAR Hall of Fame:
Located in Uptown Charlotte, N.C., the 150,000-square-foot NASCAR Hall of Fame is an interactive, entertainment attraction honoring the history and heritage of NASCAR. The high-tech venue, designed to educate and entertain race fans and non-fans alike, opened May 11, 2010 and includes artifacts, interactive exhibits, and a 278-person state-of-the-art theater. Also on the property is Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant and the NASCAR Hall of Fame Gear Shop. The goal of the facility is to honor NASCAR icons and create an enduring tribute to the drivers, crew members, team owners and others that have impacted the sport in the past, present and future.
The Hollywood Walk of Fame:
OK, so it’s not technically a “hall”, but what trip to LA would be complete without visiting the The Hollywood Walk of Fame? The walk includes more than 2,400 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along fifteen blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, California. The stars are permanent public monuments to achievement in the entertainment industry, bearing the names of a mix of actors, musicians, directors, producers, musical and theatrical groups, fictional characters, and others. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is good help to find the stars you want. Go ahead, see how small Marilyn Monroe’s hands really were.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame:
The greatest stories and biggest names in rock and roll shine on at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio. The experience includes 4 theaters, multiple interactive stations and seven floors of exhibits that tell the story of the world’s most powerful art form. This is sure to please mom and dad, and the interactive nature makes it fun for kids, even if they’ve never heard of Led Zeppelin.
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum collections feature just under 40,000 three-dimensional items, three million books and documents and 500,000 photographs. The Museum tells visitors the story of baseball through its three-story timeline, with the majestic Plaque Gallery serving as a centerpiece. There’s something about the Baseball Hall of Fame that makes it seem more like a walk through history. Baseball seems to capture and reflect our national psyche somehow. The trip to Cooperstown, NY will be the most nostalgic for those who visit.
The National Toy Hall of Fame:
If you happen to find yourself in Rochester, NY, take the kids to The National Toy Hall of Fame at The Strong. Established in 1998, it recognizes toys that have inspired creative play and enjoyed popularity over a sustained period. Each year, the prestigious hall inducts new honorees and showcases both new and historic versions of classic toys beloved by generations. The Strong is a highly interactive, collections-based educational institution devoted to the study and exploration of play. Through the National Toy Hall of Fame and its other Play Partners—the National Museum of Play, the International Center for the History of Electronic Games, the Brian Sutton-Smith Library and Archives of Play, and the American Journal of Play—The Strong explores play and the ways in which it encourages learning, creativity, and discovery and illuminates cultural history. It’s like a hall of fame and children’s museum rolled into one. You can say you are going there for the kids, but you may be the one who appreciates it most.
