15 hall of fame locations that will dazzle any sports fan

Which sport has the best hall of fame? We take a look at some of the best in the country — Photo courtesy of Jacob Wackerhausen / iStock Via Getty Images Plus

Some people play sports for the love of the game, while others dream of a professional career or of competing in the Olympics. No matter your level of play, these sports hall of fame destinations will inspire with their incredible exhibits and memorabilia.

Pro Football Hall of Fame – Canton, Ohio

Touch down at the NFL Hall of Fame to celebrate your favorite players — Photo courtesy of Pro Football Hall of Fame

A little more than an hour’s drive south of Cleveland, the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, has welcomed sports fans since 1963. Often referred to as the NFL Hall of Fame, the museum boasts more than 100,000 square feet of immersive exhibits and memorabilia from history-making games.

The award-winning Pro Football Hall of Fame honors almost 400 inductees. Fans may find themselves emotional as they walk the Hall of Fame Gallery, which contains row upon row of bronze busts of every Hall of Famer.

Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame – Springfield, Massachusetts

The hall of fame is named after James Naismith, who invented basketball — Photo courtesy of Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame

Appropriately located in Springfield, Massachusetts, “the birthplace of basketball,” the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is hard to miss. This architectural wonder is equally impressive on the inside. The hall recognizes over 450 inductees and houses a state-of-the-art theater and multiple floors of interactive exhibits, games, and treasured artifacts.

The hall is named after James Naismith, a Canadian-American physician, educator, chaplain, and coach widely known for inventing the game of basketball.

National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum – Cooperstown, New York

Peruse all the jerseys, bats, and relics at the National Baseball Hall of Fame — Photo courtesy of Gregory Fisher / USA TODAY Sports

If you’re a baseball fan and you haven’t been to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, you’re striking out. Located in Cooperstown, New York, the award-winning museum first opened to visitors in 1939. The hall of fame, known as “Club 346,” recognizes the 346 players, umpires, managers, and pioneers of baseball who’ve been inducted.

After perusing the gallery, fans can wander (and wonder!) through the museum’s awe-inspiring collection of historic baseball relics, from Willie Mays’ glove to Lou Gehrig’s final season jersey. There are literally tens of thousands of mementos, so make sure you earmark plenty of time to take it all in.

United States Hockey Hall of Fame – Eveleth, Minnesota

Hockey fans can visit halls of fame in the United States and Canada — Photo courtesy of Ryan McVay / The Image Bank

Hockey fans should head to Eveleth, Minnesota, to the United States Hockey Hall of Fame, celebrating the game’s greatest players since 1973. The town is the birthplace of 12 hall of fame inductees! At the hall, you’ll find jerseys of famous players, flags from the 1980 Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid, New York, and the fourth Zamboni machine ever made.

Can’t get enough? Head north (eh?) to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This hall offers 65,000 square feet of interactive displays and memorabilia. Be sure to check out the original Stanley Cup, first awarded to the Montreal team in 1893.

World Golf Hall of Fame – St Augustine, Florida

Swing into the the World Golf Hall of Fame for inspiration — Photo courtesy of Somchai Sookkasem / iStock Via Getty Images Plus

Golf fanatics must swing over to the World Golf Hall of Fame, which, since opening its doors in 1974, has been honoring the game’s greatest players. Guided tours are available, or you can opt to browse on your own. Individual displays reminiscent of full-size lockers contain memories and memorabilia of legendary golfers through the ages, from Ben Hogan and Babe Zaharias to Annika Sörenstam and Tiger Woods.

Fun fact: The World Golf Hall of Fame is also home to the largest IMAX silver screen in Florida.

International Tennis Hall of Fame – Newport, Rhode Island

The International Tennis Hall of Fame is housed in a National Historic Landmark — Photo courtesy of International Tennis Hall of Fame

Located inside the historic Newport Casino, the International Tennis Hall of Fame pays homage to 267 tennis legends hailing from 28 countries. Voted among the best attractions for sports fans, the hall is organized as three galleries: The Birth of Tennis (1874 – 1918), The Popular Game (1918 – 1968), and The Open Era (1968 – present).

The hall also encompasses 20 tennis courts on its immaculately manicured grounds: 13 grass, 6 hard, and 1 clay court. The Hall of Fame Tennis Club, which is open to the public, offers lessons, clinics, and court time.

International Boxing Hall of Fame – Canastota, New York

The International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York, has a knockout collection of memorabilia — Photo courtesy of allanswart / iStock Via Getty Images Plus

The International Boxing Hall of Fame is set in the quaint New York town of Canastota, the old stomping grounds of two former world champion boxers — Carmen Basilio, welterweight and middleweight champion of the late 1950s, and Basilio’s nephew, Billy Backus, who claimed the world welterweight title in 1970. The hall of fame honors old timers, women pioneers, and modern stars of boxing.

Although this is a smaller hall of fame, the museum boasts lots of boxing memorabilia. A highlight of the collection: the original Madison Square Garden boxing ring, upon which thousands of historic bouts took place from 1925 to 2007.

National Wrestling Hall of Fame – Stillwater, Oklahoma

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame has two locations in the U.S., both worth a visit — Photo courtesy of tirc83 / E+

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame opened its doors in 1976 to preserve the history of wrestling and honor the sports’ greatest athletes. Here, you’ll find several Olympic gold medals on display and educational exhibits dedicated to women wrestlers, Native American wrestlers, and African-American wrestlers.

The national hall also operates a second location in Waterloo, Iowa. The National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum is named after the wrestling legend and Waterloo native. The museum houses three halls of fame: the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame, the Glen Brand Wrestling Hall of Fame of Iowa, and the Alan and Gloria Rice Greco-Roman Hall of Champions. There’s also an on-site teaching center and screenings of NCAA Championship matches, 1930s to present.

International Swimming Hall of Fame – Fort Lauderdale, Florida

The new International Swimming Hall of Fame is slated to open in 2027-28 — Photo courtesy of Hall of Fame Partners

If you’re a fan of Olympic swimming, the International Swimming Hall of Fame is right in your lane — but you’ll need to be patient. The hall is undergoing a massive $219 million renovation and expected to reopen in 2027-28. The new facilities will offer a state-of-the-art aquatic sports history center, an aquarium, and panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean.

The Hall of Fame possesses the world’s largest collection of aquatic memorabilia. Special pieces include Johnny Weissmuller’s Olympic medals, Mark Spitz’s starting block from the 1972 Olympic Games, and well over 100 Olympic uniforms from different countries. The hall’s medal collection is unmatched!

National Track and Field Hall of Fame – New York, New York

Check out the New York City Marathon exhibit at the National Track and Field Hall of Fame — Photo courtesy of National Track and Field Hall of Fame

Located in Washington Heights at the Armory Foundation, the National Track and Field Hall of Fame pays homage to champions of the sport, to include athletes, coaches, major event organizers, and even journalists. The Hall Gallery overlooks the New Balance Track and Field Center, where future track and field stars train and compete.

Be sure to check out the miniature replica of the New York City Marathon course and the interactive touch-screen exhibits with Olympic champions.

International Volleyball of Fame – Holyoke, Massachusetts

Volleyball was invented in Holyoke, Massachusetts — Photo courtesy of simonkr / E+

The International Volleyball Hall of Fame opened to the public in 1987, with the late William G. Morgan, inventor of the volleyball, serving as the first inductee. Today, the hall honors almost 200 players, coaches, officials, and sports leaders in nearly 30 countries. Be sure to check out the exhibit that shares the story of how the game of volleyball first came to be at the Holyoke YMCA in 1895.

National Soccer Hall of Fame – Frisco, Texas

The futuristic National Soccer Hall of Fame is a real kick — Photo courtesy of National Soccer Hall of Fame

They say everything is bigger in Texas, and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Frisco doesn’t disappoint. The sprawling, 19,350-square-foot facility is a high-tech wonder. Using facial recognition and a brief intake, the hall gives visitors an experience tailored to their interests as exhibits and interactive games recognize each soccer fan as they approach.

The hall of fame, established in 1979, pays homage to the sports greatest champions. It’s no wonder this hall of fame ranked among the 10 best in the nation for Best Attraction for Sports Fans.

World Figure Skating Hall of Fame and Museum – Colorado Springs, Colorado

Colorado Springs, Colorado, is home to the World Figure Skating Museum and Hall of Fame — Photo courtesy of SeventyFour / iStock Via Getty Images Plus

The World Figure Skating Museum and Hall of Fame has been welcoming visitors since 1976. The hall of fame honors figure skating legends from around the globe, from Peggy Fleming and Scott Hamilton to Ekaterina Gordeeva and Sergei Grinkov.

The museum houses an impressive collection of trophies, costumes, and skates, as well as medals on loan from Hamilton, Kristi Yamaguchi, and Tara Lipinski. Figure skating fans are sure to be inspired by the museum’s extensive collection of photographs and footage immortalizing the most pivotal moments on ice.