Travel the Road to Fame!

Discover a Hall of Fame in the Central New York Region

Whether you’re a diehard fan or just curious about a sport, visiting a Hall of Fame is an inspiring, exciting experience: You’re surrounded by fascinating exhibits, valuable memorabilia, and sometimes even famous athletes. To partake in the fame and glory, look no further than the Central New York Region. Our region is home to nine halls of fame celebrating the following sports: baseball, wrestling, boxing, running, kayaking, canoeing, bicycling, rowing, and soccer. That’s almost one-third of the nation’s halls of fame! The region also has all the accommodations, dining, shopping, and attractions you need to create a winning trip. So what are you waiting for?

National Baseball Hall of Fame
Discover Homerun Attractions in Cooperstown

Cooperstown, otherwise known as the “Home of Baseball” is where America has gathered to celebrate its great pastime since 1939. In that year, the National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum was dedicated by Singer Sewing founder Stephen Clark. Legend has it that U.S. Civil War hero Abner Doubleday invented the baseball in Cooperstown. Whether or not the legend is true, Cooperstown was the right choice for baseball’s home base! Today, the Hall encompasses three stories of constantly updated exhibits, an $8 million library and research center, and the nearby Doubleday Field.

Each time you visit the Hall, you’re likely to find a few new exhibits in addition to permanent collections. It’s recommended that you begin your tour on the Hall’s second floor with the 13-minute “Baseball Experience” multimedia. From there, move into “Taking the Field: The 19th Century” where you can explore baseball’s beginnings. And you can’t miss the Babe Ruth Room; it’s an entire exhibit focused on baseball’s most famous figure! The second floor also features exhibits centered on women and African-Americans in baseball. You’ll find the new ¡Viva Baseball! installation which opened in May 2009. Remember, that’s just the second floor…there’s much, much more waiting to be discovered.

Even the most serious baseball buff couldn’t take in all the National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum has in its possession: Visitors only see the best of over 35,000 artifacts, 2.6 million library items (like newspaper clippings and photos), and 130,000+ baseball cards. But don’t worry: Museum curators are constantly creating fresh exhibits that utilize these artifacts to tell the baseball story!

National Distance Running Hall of Fame
Experience the Thrill of the Finish Line Here

Take a trip to the National Distance Running Hall of Fame in Utica and see the sport of running in a new light: You’ll experience firsthand the discipline, pride, and personal dedication of its participants through engaging and informative exhibits. While the thrilling final seconds of a distance run captured through testimonials and photographs are favorites among visitors, you’ll also discover the fascinating inner world of a runner – and what happens during the miles leading up to the finish. You’ll find thousands of pieces of distance running history from trophies, medals, and awards to photographs and videos. The Hall of Fame also celebrates its inductees and their stories of triumph in distance running.

You may wonder why Utica was chosen for the site of the National Distance Running Hall of Fame? The answer is the Boilermaker. Consistently ranked in the World’s Top 100 Races by Runner’s World magazine, the Boilermaker – and the National Distance Running Hall of Fame – draw runners from all over the world. If you’re interested in trying a new sport, jog on over to the National Distance Running Hall of Fame where you can’t help but be inspired to join in on this inexpensive, challenging, yet rewarding sport.

The Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
Exhibits That Will Floor You!

Wrestling is one of the most regal sports, with its earliest forms dating back to ancient Greek society. Today, the sport captivates with its hands-on, intricate fighting tactics that require great athleticism and skill. In accordance with its mission, the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (PWHF) has created a destination that truly “enshrines and pays tribute” to the professional wrestlers who have advanced the sport.

Whether you are an avid fan or new to wrestling, there’s plenty to intrigue and interest you at the Wrestling Hall of Fame. PWHF began inducting wrestlers in 2002 and each year continues to add prestigious, accomplished athletes. A visit to PWHF will familiarize you with the talented, famous, often charismatic greats of wrestling like Randy Savage and Gene Kiniski. The Hall has also ensured that women and minorities are recognized both as inductees and within exhibits.

What makes a trip to PWHF special are the numerous opportunities to interact with “real” wrestlers. The Hall regularly updates their Web site with opportunities for the public to meet famous wrestlers. There are also frequent wrestling matches and events hosted by or affiliated with the Hall. For dedicated followers of the sport, young adults exploring a new pastime, or even the average tourist, PWHF gives a rare “up close and personal” wrestling experience.

The International Boxing Hall of Fame
Visit Knockout Exhibits and You'll Be Left Hooked!

The Central New York Region is not only home to many Halls of Fame, it’s home to great champions as well. In fact, Canastota’s own world boxing champions, Carmen Basilio and Billy Backus, were a driving force in the relocation of the International Boxing Hall of Fame from New York City to Canastota in 1989. The following year, boxing legends like Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Robinson were inducted. The tradition continues decades later as a handful of champion boxers join the halls of fame in the annual induction ceremony. If you plan a visit around the ceremony, don’t be surprised if you run into both boxing and Hollywood celebrities!

So what exactly will you see at the Boxing Hall of Fame? For starters, dozens of world championship belts along with trunks, shoes, and robes from legends like Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Emile Griffith. If you’re not familiar with these names, have no fear. Just browse through the Hall and you’ll be effortlessly immersed in boxing. Compare your fi st to life-size fi st castings of famous boxers. View a classic fight film or scope out photography that captures the thrill and adrenaline-pumping action of a boxing match. Explore the extensive library where you’ll find every issue of The Ring magazine from 1922 through today. Stroll over to the event pavilion and see the most famous ring in boxing history: the Madison Square Garden ring where the “Fight of the Century” between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier took place on March 8, 1971. In no time, you’ll consider yourself a boxing fan.

The International Halls of Fame: Kayaking, Canoeing, Bicycling & Rowing
Dip Your Paddle Into Sports History!

Located at the Utica Children’s Museum of History, Natural History, Science, and Technology, the International Halls of Fame for Kayaking, Canoeing, Bicycling & Rowing can be experienced all at once! Photographs and trophies from Olympians and National Champions grace the walls here. If you attend the annual Induction Ceremony, you’ll be in the presence of great athletes and coaches such as father-daughter duo of Syracuse University rowing coaches Bill Sanford (SU Men’s Rowing coach) and Kris Sanford (SU Women’s Rowing coach). This is an excellent place to bring children who are interested in a paddle sport or cycling: Make time to explore the adjoining Children’s Museum as well!