The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Mo., sees 50,000 paying customers a year.
The Heartland might be miles and miles from sports hot spots such as Cooperstown, N.Y., and the National Baseball Hall of Fame, or the Talladega, Ala., Superspeedway.
But that’s not to say there aren’t several sports destinations in our backyard.
Here’s a quick look:
Kansas
Greyhound Hall of Fame in Abilene
It’s not every day an inductee to a hall of fame greets visitors at a hall of fame.
Unless you’re in Abilene, where Talentedmisterripley greets guests.
Talentedmisterripley, or Ripley, as he’s known in Abilene, is a retired racing greyhound. He roams the Greyhound Hall of Fame, a museum that sees about 20,000 visitors annually.
“There’s no question our live greyhounds are the hit attraction,” said Ed Scheele, director of the museum, which he deigned. He also designed the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Mo., and several other museums nationwide.
He said the museum can dispel some misconceptions about the breed.
“I think people are really surprised that racing greyhounds … they think they are these vicious machines but they’re really like your dog at home,” he said.
There are no admission charges for the hall of fame and museum, which are open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. every day. In addition, it’s near the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum in Abilene.
Information: greyhoundhalloffame.com; 800-932-7881.
Booth Family Hall of Athletics in Lawrence
At the east entrance of tradition-rich Allen Fieldhouse on the Kansas University campus is a shrine that showcases all KU sports. From a former mascot costume for the Jayhawks to a national championship trophy, there are plenty of crimson and blue exhibits. The museum will be closed through early October 2009 because of fieldhouse renovations. Information: 785-864-7446.
Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in Wichita
From Barry Sanders to Jim Colbert, 176 inductees are in the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame. But the hall of fame, at 238 N. Mead in Wichita, doesn’t just recognize inductees. The building is home to major galleries highlighting Kansas basketball, football, baseball, track and the Olympics.
In another section, a display features every Sports Illustrated issue with a Kansan on its cover. And kiosks are available throughout the hall where the history of all Kansas high school championships and records may be accessed.
Admission is $7 for adults, $6 for students K-12 and senior citizens. Youths 6 and younger are admitted for free. Family packs are available. The hall is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. Information: kshof.org; 316-262-2038.
Missouri
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City
With baseball season in full swing, Ray Doswell says it’s a great time to visit a museum chock-full of baseball history.
Doswell is curator of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, which sees 50,000 paying customers a year.
“I think baseball season is a really great time to visit from the standpoint that we tend to have a lot of educational activities going on at the museum,” Doswell said.
The museum is open year-round. Admission is $6. Doswell said admission is expected to increase to $8 in the future. Information: nlbm.com; 888-221-6526.
The May 30 Kansas City Royals game against the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium has been selected for the annual Salute to Negro Leagues game. The teams will wear retro uniforms honoring the Negro Leagues. The first 20,000 fans will receive Kansas City Monarchs replica jerseys.
College Basketball Experience and National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in Kansas City
Visitors might feel a little intimidated at the College Basketball Experience.
That is if they take in the Step Up to the Line exhibit, where they can shoot free throws under pressure. In addition, visitors can sit down at a replica ESPNU desk and call highlights of actual NCAA basketball action.
That and many other interactive exhibits are available in the two-level facility that also is home to the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. The College Basketball Experience connects to the Sprint Center, 14th and Grand, in downtown Kansas City, Mo.
Tickets: $10 for adults, $7 for ages 6-17 and free for 5 and younger. Information: collegebasketballexperience.com; 816-949-7500.
Chappell’s Restaurant and Sports Museum in Kansas City
Sports memorabilia nuts will feel at home at Chappell’s Restaurant and Sports Museum, 323 Armour Road, North Kansas City. The restaurant, touted as home to the nation’s largest collection of sports memorabilia displayed in a restaurant, boasts more than 1,000 football helmets, pennant after pennant and an authentic World Series trophy, as well as several autographed Hall of Fame baseballs. Information: chappellsrestaurant.com; 816-421-0002. It is open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Iowa
Bob Feller Museum in Van Meter
A Pulitzer Prize-winning photo of Babe Ruth shows Ruth in 1945 at Yankee Stadium on the day his number was retired. An ill Ruth, who died two months later, did not want to be on crutches in front of fans and asked for a bat to lean on. The Yankees were playing the Cleveland Indians that day and the bat belonged to Cleveland great Bob Feller.
The bat is on display at the Bob Feller Museum in Van Meter, where Feller grew up. The museum opened in 1995 and was designed by Feller’s son, Steve.
“That’s really the big piece of memorabilia at the museum,” director Scott Havick said.
Information: bobfellermuseum.org; 515-996-2806. The museum is open 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays and noon-4 p.m. Sundays. Admission: $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and school-aged children.
Knoxville Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum in Knoxville
Racing enthusiasts can see past and present at the Knoxville Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum.
Knoxville features a four-story hall of fame and museum, which attracts between 36,000 and 38,000 visitors annually. After they tour the attraction, they can head next door to watch drivers who may be recognized down the road in the hall of fame. The hall of fame and museum is situated near Turn 2 of the Knoxville Raceway.
Admission: $4 for adults and $3 for youths and senior citizens. And from April 25 to Sept. 5, races are Saturdays. The last weekend of the season is Oct. 1-3 with the Late Model Knoxville Nationals.
Information: sprintcarhof.com and knoxvilleraceway.com.
Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum in Waterloo
Abraham Lincoln can be found in Waterloo, Iowa.
In the lobby of the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum, is a life-size mural of a young Lincoln’s wrestling match with “town toughie” Jack Armstrong, who challenged Lincoln to a wrestling match during summer 1832 in New Salem, Ill. Other exhibits include Olympic and NCAA pavilions.
The institute and museum, 303 Jefferson, Waterloo, are open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Information: 319-233-0745.
Field of Dreams movie site in Dyersville
If you drive there, you will see it — the set of the famous 1989 movie “Field of Dreams.” At 28995 Lansing Road near Dyersville, about 25 miles west of Dubuque, is the set of the Academy Award-nominated baseball movie that is open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. from April 1 to Nov. 31. Admission is free and souvenirs are available. For information: (888) 875-8404 or fieldofdreamsmoviesite.com.
Nebraska
Museum of Nebraska Major League Baseball in St. Paul
From legends Bob Gibson and Wade Boggs to current players Alex Gordon and Joba Chamberlin, several major league baseball players have ties to Nebraska. More than 140 current and former players with that distinction are featured at the Museum of Nebraska Major League Baseball in historic downtown St. Paul.
The museum is open Memorial Day to Labor Day, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays. Information: nebraskabaseballmuseum.com; 308-754-5558.
National Museum of Roller Skating in Lincoln
Everything there is to know about roller skating can be found at the National Museum of Roller Skating in Lincoln. The museum, 4730 South St., contains the largest collection of historic roller skates, dating back to 1819. It’s open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday, but closed on major holidays. Information: rollerskatingmuseum.com; 402-483-1465.
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