By Tami Kamin-Meyer

Halls of Fame—those sometimes cheesy, usually intriguing and always sentimental homes of collectibles, memorabilia and incredibly rare items—are alive and well in the Mid-Atlantic region. These specialty shrines to the greats offer something unusual, entertaining, and yes, even educational, not too far from your front door.

For example, its inhabitants are all minors but they’ve achieved major successes. The players and coaches featured in the Little League Hall of Fame in Williamsport, Pa., are pint-size stars of the baseball diamond whose names could be uttered by baseball fans of the future.

The Commonwealth is also home to a hall focusing on Bob Hoffman, the founder of York Barbells and the sport of weightlifting. This York-based museum pays tribute to Hoffman, also known as the “Father of Weightlifting.” You’ll know you’ve arrived when you spot a 7 ½ foot bronze statue depicting Hoffman at the building’s entrance. 

Other halls highlighting the sport of lacrosse and even a groundhog flourish in the Mid-Atlantic region. Buckle up to haul in the fun!

Lacrosse Museum and National Hall of Fame

Quick: Name the oldest American sport. 

If you first thought basketball, you’d be wrong. It was invented by James Naismith in 1891. If your initial inclination was baseball, you’d be closer, but still wrong. Although its origins date back to England in the 1600s, the popular belief is that baseball was invented in the United States in 1845.

Certainly lacrosse was your third guess, right? If so, grab yourself a stick because you’re on the ball! While its exact date of invention is murky, there’s little doubt lacrosse was first played by North American Indians in the 1600s.

Opened in Baltimore, Md., in 1998, the 4,000 square-foot museum pays homage to the “men and women, past and present, who, by their deeds as players, coaches, officials and/or contributors…personify the great contribution of the sport of lacrosse to our way of life,” says Colleen Sperry Aungst, spokesperson for the hall.

Every year, thousands of visitors flock to the facility to view memorabilia, collectibles and plaques related to the sport. They come from all over, but primarily the Mid-Atlantic region, she says. The hall gets particularly busy when people travel to the area for a lacrosse-related event, especially since the museum is located right next to Johns Hopkins University’s lacrosse field. 

The hall’s top sights include the Tewaaraton Trophy, which is equivalent to college football’s Heisman Trophy and reflects the game’s Native American roots, says Sperry Aungst.

Children are especially drawn to the Champions’ jerseys on display. “We hang the jerseys of all the national championship teams in a given year,” she says.

Little League Hall of Fame

The kind of diamonds featured in the Little League Hall of Fame, housed in the Little League International Complex in Williamsport, Pa., may not be a girl’s best friend, but they’ve been home to millions of boys for several decades. 

Today, Little League Baseball is played by more than 7,000 teams in over 80 countries. The hall is located in Williamsport because that’s where Little League Baseball was born.

The hall is actually just one part of the Peter J. McGovern Little League Museum, named for the man who was the organization’s first full-time president. He held that position from 1952 until his death in 1984. 

According to museum spokesman Chris Downs, more than 25,000 guests from all over the world visit the hall annually. They are treated to a variety of exhibits and displays depicting players and coaches who left a lasting legacy on the game. Guests can also enjoy two regulation-sized batting and pitching cages as well as a 60-foot running track that emulates the distance between home plate and first base. Children especially enjoy running that track because their runs are timed, says Downs.

Some exhibits are permanent while others are traveling displays. An example of a recent temporary exhibit highlighted the link between Little League Baseball and the Philadelphia Phillies, the reigning champions of Major League Baseball. 

Without a doubt, though, the hall’s biggest highlight of the year occurs every summer when the Little League World Series is played in one of the two regulation-sized baseball stadiums housed on the grounds. This summer’s version will occur August 21–30 and will feature eight teams from the United States and eight from other countries. Admission to the various baseball games held during the series is free.

When visiting the hall, look for the display honoring former President George Bush, also known as 43. “He came here to accept his plaque in 2001,” says Downs. The hall also doles out the George and Barbara Bush Parents-of-the-Year Award to the parents of a little leaguer whose unparalleled support of their child and the sport are excellent examples for others.

Punxsutawney Weather Discovery Center

There’s more to Punxsutawney, Pa., than just its famous weather-predicting groundhog. However, it’s also fair to say the Meteorologist Hall of Fame and the Punxsutawney Weather Discovery Center are located in that town because of that renowned rodent.

“Punxsutawney is the weather capital of the world due to Punxsutawney Phil,” says Mary Jean Johnston, a project administrator at the town’s Weather Discovery Center. 

According to Johnston, a retired high school teacher, upwards of 6,000 guests visit the center every year. “That number keeps growing because we are reaching out further to encourage people to visit us,” she says. 

Visitors trek to the museum from all over and many even sign a guestbook. 

Among the facility’s most popular exhibits is the Green-Screen Forecast Station. Guests play the role of the television meteorologist by standing in front of the screen and reporting the weather, says Johnston. And just like the weatherperson on TV, visitors can watch themselves on camera as they present that day’s forecast. 

The museum houses many other interactive, hands-on exhibits that educate guests about tornados, thunderstorms, winds, meteorology and other weather-related topics. “It’s a place where people can experience the wonders of weather,” says Johnston.

The Weightlifting 

Hall of Fame

While it’s not the only hall dedicated to the history of strength sports, it is the only one dedicated to the man considered the father of world weightlifting. When, in 1935, Bob Hoffman bought the Milo Barbell Company at a bankruptcy sale and transferred it to York, Pa., the York Barbell Company was born. 

The 8,000 square-foot facility is connected to a retail store selling a wide variety of weightlifting and exercise equipment, says Janis Smith, the company’s controller. “People come from all over to buy” various items, she says, noting that plates and dumbbells are purchased most often.

Oftentimes, she says, before or after a customer visits the store, they’ll wander into the Weightlifting Hall of Fame, too. There’s no cost to enter, so the facility has no way to keep track of who comes in and out or how many people actually visit annually. “One day it could be one person and the next, a school bus full of children.”

What they see when they visit are numerous exhibits highlighting Hoffman’s contributions to the sport of weightlifting. While most displays focus on him, occasionally the museum will feature exhibits about “current weightlifters breaking records or doing other exceptional things,” says Smith.

Smith says that despite being housed in only two rooms, there’s so much to see, there is no way to narrow down any one display that should not be missed. However, children are undoubtedly most fascinated by the various barbells on display. But, says Smith, this is a museum for looking and not for touching (or lifting!). 

AT A GLANCE

Lacrosse Museum and National Hall of Fame, 113 W. University Pkwy, Baltimore, MD 21210, (410) 235-6882. Open Feb–May, Tues.–Sat., 10–3, June–Jan., Mon.–Fri., 10–3; Admission, adults (16+), $3, children (5–15), $2, children under 2, free. U.S. Lacrosse members, free with valid U.S. Lacrosse membership card. Barrier-free accessible. www.uslacrosse.org. 

Little League International Complex, 539 Montgomery Pike, South Williamsport, PA 17002, (570) 326-1921. Open Memorial Day to June 30, Mon., Thu.–Sat., 10–5, Sun. 12–5, closed Tue–Wed; July 1–Labor Day, Mon.–Sat., 10–5, Sun. 12–5; Labor Day to Memorial Day, Fri.–Sat. only, 10–5. Admission, adults $5, children 5–14, $3, seniors 62+, $1.50. Barrier-free accessible. www.littleleague.org.

Punxsutawney Weather Discovery Center, 201 North Findlay Street, Punxsutawney, Pa., 15767, (814) 938-1000. Open year-round, 10–4 daily, but closed Wed. & Sun. Admission, $4 adults, children under 2, free. No senior discount. Barrier-free accessibility via ramp on side of building and facility is barrier-free as well. www.weatherdiscovery.org.

The Weightlifting Hall of Fame, 3300 Board Rd., York, Pa., 17402, (800) 358-9675. Open year round, Mon.–Fri., 8–5; Sat., 10–5; closed Sun. and major holidays. Free admission. Barrier-free accessible. http://www.yorkbarbell.com/ 

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