Finest Sports Museums in America

There is something to be said about preserving the history of sports. The memorabilia, the equipment, and the halls of fame are all nestled away in sports museums that do the best they can in presenting the public with the knowledge about the fascinating world of physical prowess and discipline in the United States. Five such museums are coming your way.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, New York

There are about 150 years covered in this building. If you are lucky enough to enter the museum, you will start your tour with a short film about the history of America’s favorite pastime. The tour continues chronologically, starting from the end of the 19th century with more than half a million photos and so many hours of videos you wouldn’t be able to complete watching them in a single year, even if you don’t eat or sleep – there is about 12,000 of them. Furthermore, if you are into collecting baseball cards, this is the place to be – you get to see over 100,000 cards with the legends of the sport. The museum also pays homage to the African-American baseball players and their integration into the sport and society in general.

The Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum, Pennsylvania

You will find this museum in Pittsburgh. It is located in the Senator John Heinz History Center and it doesn’t focus on a single sport, but a plethora of achievement by the American athletes and superstars. You can learn more about the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Steelers, and the Pirates, each with the ability to boast about their trophies. If you are not a fan of Pittsburgh and its teams, however, we regret to inform you that you will probably not get much out of visiting this establishment. Still, it should be on your bucket list.

Pro Football Hall of Fame, Ohio

This is, hands-down, one of the most popular American sports museums. It was founded in 1963 and, as all the museums on this list, boasts a handsome collection of biographies and relics of the past. The museum is so vast that the visit to it can probably not be completed in a single day. The exhibits are interactive and it doesn’t matter whether you’re an old sports veteran or a child just getting to know the only football worth playing – everyone is welcome.

San Diego Hall of Champions, California

Located in Balboa Park, the Hall of Champions was, by far, the largest sports museum in the US that dealt with 42 sports disciplines. One of its more notable exhibits was the Breitbard Hall of Fame, where you can find the achievements of the greatest athletes, including Tony Hawk. Sadly, the museum closed in 2017, but the Breitbard Hall of Fame is still open to visitors, though it was meant to be relocated to Petco Park.

Honorable Mention: Hockey Hall of Fame, Canada

As much as it pains us to say, the Canucks know a thing or two about hockey and it shows. It is an honorable mention since it is not located in the US, but it made the list on the grounds of being considered the birthplace of ice hockey. There are around 30 goalie masks and other pieces of equipment from all over the world, so if you enjoy watching hockey heroes, this is your go-to place. A few items and images of Wayne Gretzky can be seen here, along with the epic Stanley Cup. You can even try out some of the equipment yourself and, for a true hockey fan, that means being able to wear history.